Pump unit

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a pump unit that includes at least one hydraulic pump with inlet and outlet ports formed therein, a pump case for accommodating the at least one hydraulic pump, the pump case having an opening through which the at least one hydraulic pump is insertable into the pump case, and a center section connected to the pump case in such a manner as to close the opening of the pump case. The center section forms a pair of inlet/outlet passages having first ends respectively communicating with the inlet and outlet ports of the at least one hydraulic pump and second ends opening to the outside of the center section through a pump case abutting surface of the center section, and a first charging passage having a first end through which working hydraulic fluid is fed into the center section and a second end opening to the outside of the center section through the pump case abutting surface of the center section. At least one of the pump case and the center section forms a communication passage for communication between the second ends of the pair of inlet/outlet passages and the second end of the first charging passage. A first hydraulic fluid feeding valve is also provided in the pump unit for allowing hydraulic fluid to flow from the first charging passage to the pair of inlet/outlet passages while preventing the reverse flow. The first hydraulic fluid feeding valve is installable through the pump case abutting surface of the center section or a center section abutting surface of the pump case.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] Background of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a pump unit used for various purposes.

[0003] More particularly, a first aspect of the present invention relates to a pump unit that includes a hydraulic pump, a pump case for accommodating the hydraulic pump and a center section connected to the pump case.

[0004] A hydraulic pump is used in various applications and in particular as the hydraulic pump adapted for operation in association with an actuator driven through the hydraulic effect. In this case, the hydraulic pump is connected to the actuator via a pair of hydraulic lines, and the output flow rate of hydraulic fluid discharged from the hydraulic pump is varied to cause the pressure difference between the pair of hydraulic lines, thereby driving the actuator. When the hydraulic pump is thus connected to the actuator via the pair of hydraulic lines so as to constitute a closed circuit, a charging mechanism is generally required to feed pressurized hydraulic fluid to the pair of hydraulic lines.

[0005] Specifically, the charging mechanism as required necessarily includes a charge line having a first end through which pressurized hydraulic fluid is fed into the pair of hydraulic lines, and a second end communicating with the pair of hydraulic lines, a checking valve for allowing the pressurized hydraulic fluid to flow from the charge line to the pair of hydraulic lines, while preventing the reverse flow.

[0006] For the hydraulic pump with the charging mechanism, it is desirable to reduce machining works for the reduction of the manufacturing cost, and/or improve an assembling efficiency in installing the check valve, or other works. However, there have not been made effective proposals in view of those points.

[0007] The first aspect of the present invention has been therefor conceived in consideration of the prior arts. It is an object of the first aspect of the present invention to provide a pump unit with the charging mechanism for feeding additional hydraulic fluid, which pump is used in association with the actuator driven through the hydraulic effect, and is capable of lowering the manufacturing cost and improving the assembling efficiency.

[0008] A second aspect of the present invention relates to a pump unit with first and second hydraulic pumps that is designed to be operated in association with an actuator driven through a hydraulic effect.

[0009] A hydraulic pump is used in various applications and in particular as the hydraulic pump adapted for operation in association with an actuator driven through the hydraulic effect. The description will hereinafter be made for the pump unit by taking for example the case where it includes the first and second hydraulic motors serving as the actuators that respectively drive the right and left drive wheels.

[0010] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,920,733 discloses a vehicle including first and second hydraulic pumps respectively connected via first and second hydraulic lines to the first and second hydraulic motors for driving the right and left drive wheels. In this vehicle, the first and second hydraulic motors respectively have outputs variable in response to the adjustment of the input/output flow rates of the first and second hydraulic pumps, thereby controlling the rotational speed and rotational direction of the right and left drive wheels.

[0011] The vehicle of the above arrangement has the first hydraulic pump and the second hydraulic pump separately arranged from one another, the former being operated in association with the first hydraulic motor, and the latter being operated in association with the second hydraulic motor. Such a separate arrangement of the hydraulic pumps involves a troublesome piping work between the first and second hydraulic pumps and the first and second hydraulic motors, a troublesome assembling work of the pump unit, and pose various other problems.

[0012] The second aspect of the present invention has been therefor conceived in consideration of the above prior art. It is an object of the second aspect of the present invention to provide a pump unit with the first and second hydraulic pumps that is capable of achieving the simplification of the piping work between the actuator and the hydraulic pumps, and the assembling work of the pump unit.

[0013] A third aspect of the present invention relates to a pump unit used for a vehicle with first and second hydraulic motors respectively connected to the right and left drive wheels, and includes first and second hydraulic pumps that are designed to be respectively operated in association with first and second hydraulic motors.

[0014] There are known arrangements of the above type described in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,920,733. According to this U.S. patent, a vehicle with first and second hydraulic motors respectively connected to the right and left drive wheels includes first and second hydraulic pumps respectively operable in association with the first and second hydraulic motors. In this vehicle, the first and second hydraulic motors respectively have outputs variable in response to the adjustment of the input/output flow rates of the first and second hydraulic pumps, thereby controlling the rotational speed and rotational direction of the right and left drive wheels.

[0015] The vehicle of the above arrangement has the first hydraulic pump and the second hydraulic pump which are separately arranged from one another, the former being operated in association with the first hydraulic motor, and the latter being operated in association with the second hydraulic motor. Such a separate arrangement of the hydraulic pumps poses various problems, such as troublesome mounting operation of the hydraulic pumps on the vehicle, and troublesome assembling operation.

[0016] The third aspect of the present invention has been therefor conceived in consideration of the above prior art. It is an object of the third aspect of the present invention to provide a pump unit used for the vehicle with the first and second hydraulic motors respectively connected to the right and left drive wheels, and including first and second axial piston pumps of a variable displacement type that is capable of having improved efficiencies in mounting the pump unit on the vehicle, and improved assembling efficiency.

[0017] A fourth aspect of the present invention relates to a pump unit with first and second hydraulic pumps that are respectively connected via first and second hydraulic lines to first and second actuators driven through a hydraulic effect.

[0018] A hydraulic pump is used in various applications and in particular as the hydraulic pump adapted for operation in association with an actuator driven through the hydraulic effect. The description will hereinafter be made for the pump unit by taking for example the case where it includes the first and second hydraulic motors serving as the actuators that respectively drive the right and left drive wheels.

[0019] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,920,733 discloses a vehicle including first and second hydraulic pumps respectively connected via first and second hydraulic lines to the first and second hydraulic motors for driving the right and left drive wheels. In this vehicle, the first and second hydraulic motors respectively have outputs variable in response to the adjustment of the input/output flow rates of the first and second hydraulic pumps, thereby controlling the rotational speed and rotational direction of the right and left drive wheels.

[0020] The vehicle disclosed in the above cited U.S. patent has the first hydraulic pump and the second hydraulic pump separately arranged from one another, the former being operated in association with the first hydraulic motor, and the latter being operated in association with the second hydraulic motor. Such a separate arrangement of the hydraulic pumps invites a complicated structure of a feeding passage for feeding working hydraulic fluid from a reservoir tank to the first hydraulic line and the second hydraulic line, and poses various other problems.

[0021] The fourth aspect of the present invention has been therefor conceived in consideration of the above prior art. It is an object of the fourth aspect of the present invention to provide a pump unit with the first and second hydraulic pumps that are respectively connected via the first and second hydraulic lines to the first and second actuators driven through the hydraulic effect, and that is capable of achieving a simplified structure of the feeding passage for feeding working hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic lines extending between the actuators and the hydraulic pumps.

[0022] A fifth aspect of the present invention relates to a pump unit with first and second hydraulic pumps that are respectively connected via first and second hydraulic lines to first and second actuators driven through a hydraulic effect.

[0023] A hydraulic pump is used in various applications and in particular as the hydraulic pump adapted for operation in association with an actuator driven through the hydraulic effect. The description will hereinafter be made for the pump unit by taking for example the case where it includes the first and second hydraulic motors serving as the actuators that respectively drive the right and left drive wheels.

[0024] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,920,733 discloses a vehicle including first and second hydraulic pumps respectively connected via first and second hydraulic lines to the first and second hydraulic motors for driving the right and left drive wheels. In this vehicle, the first and second hydraulic motors respectively have outputs variable in response to the adjustment of the input/output flow rates of the first and second hydraulic pumps, thereby controlling the rotational speed and rotational direction of the right and left drive wheels.

[0025] The vehicle disclosed in the above cited U.S. patent has the first hydraulic pump and the second hydraulic pump separately arranged from one another, the former being operated in association with the first hydraulic motor, and the latter being operated in association with the second hydraulic motor. Such a separate arrangement of the hydraulic pumps invites a complicated structure of a feeding passage for feeding working hydraulic fluid for an HST (hydrostatic transmission) from a hydraulic fluid tank to the first hydraulic line and the second hydraulic line, and poses various other problems.

[0026] As a further disadvantage, the working hydraulic fluid between the hydraulic pumps and the actuators may increase in temperature due to the load from the outside. Such an increase in temperature of the working hydraulic fluid may invite various problems such as lowering of the volumetric efficiency, or lowering of the axle revolution speed if the hydraulic motors are used as the actuators for driving the drive wheels of the vehicle, deteriorating of the durability. However, the above-cited U.S. patent does not teach any solutions to limit the temperature of the working hydraulic fluid of the HST.

[0027] The fifth aspect of the present invention has been therefor conceived in consideration of the above prior art. It is an object of the fifth aspect of the present invention to provide a pump unit with the first and second hydraulic pumps that are respectively connected via the first and second hydraulic lines to the first and second actuators driven through the hydraulic effect, and that is capable of effectively limiting the increase in temperature of the working hydraulic fluid to be replenished to the hydraulic lines between the actuators and the hydraulic pumps.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0028] According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pump unit that includes at least one hydraulic pump with inlet and outlet ports formed therein, a pump case for accommodating the at least one hydraulic pump, the pump case having an opening through which the at least one hydraulic pump is insertable into the pump case, and a center section connected to the pump case in such a manner as to close the opening of the pump case. The center section forms a pair of inlet/outlet passages having first ends respectively communicating with the inlet and outlet ports of the at least one hydraulic pump and second ends opening to the outside of the center section through a pump case abutting surface of the center section, and a first charging passage having a first end through which working hydraulic fluid is fed into the center section and a second end opening to the outside of the center section through the pump case abutting surface of the center section. At least one of the pump case and the center section forms a communication passage for communication between the second ends of the pair of inlet/outlet passages and the second end of the first charging passage. A first hydraulic fluid feeding valve is also provided in the pump unit for allowing hydraulic fluid to flow from the first charging passage to the pair of inlet/outlet passages while preventing the reverse flow. The first hydraulic fluid feeding valve is installable through the pump case abutting surface of the center section or a center section abutting surface of the pump case.

[0029] With the pump unit of the above arrangement, the workload for boring the center section can be reduced, and assembly efficiency in assembling the pump unit can be improved.

[0030] The pump case of the pump unit of the first aspect of the present invention is preferably adapted to reserve the hydraulic fluid.

[0031] The pump unit of the first aspect of the present invention preferably has the following arrangement. Specifically, the working hydraulic fluid fed into the first charging passage through the first end thereof is hydraulic fluid fed from a charge pump operatively connected to a driving shaft for driving the at least one hydraulic pump. The center section of the pump unit forms a second charging passage for communication between the inside of the pump case and the first charging passage; and the second charging passage preventing the flow of the hydraulic fluid from the first charging passage into the pump case, while allowing the hydraulic fluid stored within the pump case to flow into the first charging passage when negative pressure is generated in at least one of the pair of inlet/outlet passages,

[0032] The communication passage of the pump unit of the first aspect of the present invention preferably has a groove shape and formed in the center section abutting surface of the pump case. The pump case also has the center section abutting surface forming an escape groove communicating with the inside of the pump case for the escape of the leaked hydraulic fluid.

[0033] Further, the center section of the pump unit preferably forms a bypass passage for communication between the pair of inlet/outlet passages; and the bypass passage provided with an open/close valve in such a manner as to be operable from the outside for communication and cutoff of the hydraulic fluid between the pair of inlet/outlet passages.

[0034] According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a pump unit that includes a first hydraulic pump with inlet and outlet ports formed therein, a second hydraulic pump with inlet and outlet ports formed therein disposed parallel to the first hydraulic pump, and a pump case for accommodating the first hydraulic pump and the second hydraulic pump. The pump case has an opening through which the first hydraulic pump and the second hydraulic pump are insertable into the pump case. The center section is connected to the pump case in such a manner as to close the opening of the pump case. The center section forms a first pair of inlet/outlet passages having first ends respectively communicating with the inlet and outlet ports of the first hydraulic pump and second ends opening to the outside of the center section through a pump case abutting surface of the center section, a second pair of inlet/outlet passages having first ends respectively communicating with the inlet and outlet ports of the second hydraulic pump and second ends opening to the outside of the center section through the pump case abutting surface of the center section, and a first charging passage having a first end through which working hydraulic fluid is fed into the center section and a second end opening to the outside of the center section through the pump case abutting surface of the center section. At least one of the pump case and the center section forms a communication passage for communication the second ends of the first pair of inlet/outlet passages and the second ends of the pair of second inlet/outlet passages to the second end of the first charging passage. A first hydraulic fluid feeding valve is also provided in the pump unit for allowing the flow of hydraulic fluid from the first charging passage to the pair of inlet/outlet passage and the second pair of inlet/outlet passages. The first hydraulic fluid feeding valve is installable through the pump case abutting surface of the center section or a center section abutting surface of the pump case.

[0035] According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pump unit that includes a first hydraulic pump and a second hydraulic pump respectively connected to first and second actuators via a first pair of hydraulic lines and a second pair of hydraulic lines. The first hydraulic pump and the second hydraulic pump are accommodated within a common housing with the former pump disposed parallel to the latter pump. Both first and second hydraulic pumps are supported on a common center section. The common center section forms a first pair of inlet/outlet ports and a second pair of inlet/outlet ports. The first pair of inlet/outlet ports respectively serve as connection ports for connection with the first pair of inlet/outlet hydraulic lines, while the second pair of inlet/outlet ports respectively serve as connection ports for connection with the second pair of inlet/outlet hydraulic lines.

[0036] With the above arrangement, the conduit connection between the first and second actuators can be accomplished via the common center section, thereby achieving an improved efficiency in piping work. In addition, the first and second hydraulic pumps are accommodated within the common housing, so that the first and second hydraulic pumps can be installed on an object such as a vehicle through a single mounting operation.

[0037] The common center section of the pump unit of the second aspect of the present invention preferably forms a common charging passage for feeding pressurized hydraulic fluid into the first pair of hydraulic lines and the second pair of hydraulic lines. With this arrangement, the number of charging lines can be reduced as compared with the arrangement where the first and second hydraulic pumps are separately installed, resulting in a lower manufacturing cost.

[0038] The first and second pair of inlet/outlet ports of the second aspect of the present invention are preferably formed in the same side of the common center section, thereby achieving an improved efficiency in piping work between the first and second hydraulic motors.

[0039] The pump unit of the second aspect of the present invention preferably has the following arrangement. Specifically, the first hydraulic pump and the second hydraulic pump respectively have pump shafts connected together by a power transmission mechanism provided in the common housing. The common housing includes a partition wall through which the pump shafts of the first hydraulic pump and the second hydraulic pump can extend. The partition wall divides the common housing into a pump accommodation chamber and a power transmission mechanism accommodation chamber. With this arrangement, a single power transmission path is sufficient for the simultaneous rotation of the pump shafts of the first and second hydraulic pumps, resulting in a simplified structure of the power transmission mechanism for the power transmission from the power source to the pump unit. The partition wall can effectively prevent foreign matters such as iron powder generated in the power transmission mechanism from intruding into the pump accommodation chamber.

[0040] The pump unit of the second aspect of the present invention preferably has the following arrangement. Specifically, the first hydraulic pump and the second hydraulic pump are of an axial piston type that include angularly adjustable swash plates of a cradle type, respectively having rear sides forming spherical convex surfaces. The partition wall forms guiding surfaces respectively sized and shaped to slidingly guide the spherical convex surfaces of the angularly adjustable swash plates along the guiding surfaces. These surface formations can achieve lower manufacturing cost of the hydraulic pumps, and stabilized operation of the angularly adjustable swash plates.

[0041] According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pump unit used for a vehicle with first and second hydraulic motors respectively connected to the right and left drive wheels. Specifically, the pump unit includes a first hydraulic pump and a second hydraulic pump, both being of a variable displacement type located parallel to one another within a common housing, and respectively operable in association with the first and second hydraulic motors. The first hydraulic pump and the second hydraulic pump respectively include a first pump shaft and a second pump shaft located parallel to one another within the common housing and operatively connected to one another via a power transmission mechanism. The first and second control shafts are designed for controlling the input/output flow rates of the first and second hydraulic pumps. The first and second control shafts respectively extend away from one another along the vehicle width direction.

[0042] The pump unit of the above arrangement can achieve simplified mounting of the pump unit on the vehicle, and simplified structure for the power transmission between the power source and the pump unit. When the pump unit with the first and second control shafts extending away from one another along the vehicle width direction is mounted on a vehicle having push-pull control levers, the first and second control shafts can be disposed parallel to the push-pull type control levers, thereby achieving a simplified link mechanism between the control shafts and the control levers.

[0043] The first control shaft and the second control shaft of the third aspect of the present invention are preferably located substantially at the same position with respect to the vehicle longitudinal direction. This arrangement can achieve a more simplified link mechanism between the control shafts and the control levers.

[0044] The pump unit of the third aspect of the present invention preferably has the following arrangement. Specifically, the housing includes a partition wall between the first and second hydraulic pumps, and the power transmission mechanism, through which the first pump shaft and the second pump shaft can extend. The partition wall divides the housing into a hydraulic pump accommodation chamber and a power transmission mechanism accommodation chamber, thereby effectively preventing any foreign matters such as iron powder generated in the power transmission mechanism from adversely affecting the pump performance.

[0045] The pump unit of the third aspect of the present invention preferably has the following arrangement. Specifically, the first and second hydraulic pumps are of an axial piston type that respectively include angularly adjustable swash plates of a cradle type respectively having rear sides forming spherical convex surfaces. The partition wall forms guiding surfaces respectively sized and shaped to slidingly guide the spherical convex surfaces of the angularly adjustable swash plates. With this arrangement, the hydraulic pumps can be manufactured at low cost, and the angularly adjustable swash plates can be securely operated.

[0046] According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pump unit for operation in association with first and second actuators. The pump unit includes a first hydraulic pump and a second hydraulic pump respectively connected to the first and second actuators via a first pair of hydraulic lines and a second pair of hydraulic lines; a center section supporting the first hydraulic pump and the second hydraulic pump; a housing accommodating the first hydraulic pump and the second hydraulic pump. The first hydraulic pump, the second hydraulic pump, the first pair of hydraulic lines, the second pair of hydraulic lines, the center section and the housing are integrally connected together to constitute a single unit. The pump unit also includes a reservoir tank supportingly connected to the single unit for storing hydraulic fluid to be replenished to the first pair of hydraulic lines and the second pair of hydraulic lines.

[0047] The pump unit of the above arrangement can improve an efficiency in mounting the first and second hydraulic pumps on an object such as a vehicle, and shortening the length of the conduit for replenishing the hydraulic fluid from the reservoir tank to the first pair of hydraulic lines and the second pair of hydraulic lines, thereby lowering the manufacturing cost, and improving an efficiency in replenishing the hydraulic fluid through the decrease of the resistance force between the hydraulic fluid and the conduit wall, and producing other desirable effects

[0048] Preferably, the single unit of the pump unit of the fourth aspect of the present invention is designed so that the housing can serve as a hydraulic fluid tank, and the pump unit further includes a hydraulic fluid communication passage for providing a free fluid communication between the reservoir tank and the housing. With this arrangement, the number of the conduits required between the first and second hydraulic pumps, and the first and second actuators can be reduced to substantially four conduits only, specifically the first pair of hydraulic lines and the second pair of hydraulic lines. Thus, as compared with the conventional arrangements, the pump unit of this arrangement can achieve a lower manufacturing cost, an improved assembling efficiency and an excellent workability in maintenance. Since the housing itself also serves as a hydraulic fluid tank, the reservoir tank can compactly be made.

[0049] The pump unit of the forth aspect of the present invention preferably has the following arrangement. Specifically, the center section of the pump unit is a unitary member for supporting both first and second hydraulic pumps. The center section forms a first pair of hydraulic passages respectively having first ends communicating with the first hydraulic pump and second ends opening to the outside of the center section to form connection ports for connection with the first pair of hydraulic lines, a second pair of hydraulic passages respectively having first ends communicating with the second hydraulic pump and second ends opening to the outside of the center section to form connection ports for connection with the second pair of hydraulic lines, and a charging passage having a first end opening to the outside of the center section to form an inlet port for charging, serving as an inlet for the hydraulic fluid to be replenished and a second end communicating with the first pair of hydraulic passages and the second pair of hydraulic passages via check valves. The charging passage is connected to a pressure relief line communicating with the housing via a relief vale, and the inlet port for charging is connected to the reservoir tank via a hydraulic fluid replenishing passage.

[0050] The pump unit of the fourth aspect of the present invention also preferably has the following arrangement. Specifically, the center section includes a first center section and a second center section respectively supporting the first hydraulic pump and the second hydraulic pump. The first center section forms a first pair of hydraulic passages respectively having first ends communicating with the first hydraulic pump and second ends opening to the outside of the first center section to form connection ports for connection with the first pair of hydraulic lines. The second center section forms a second pair of hydraulic passages respectively having first ends communicating with the second hydraulic pump and second ends opening to the outside of the second center section to form connection ports for connection with the second pair of hydraulic lines. At least one of the first and second center sections forms a charging passage having a first end opening to the outside of the at least one of the first and second center sections to form an inlet port for charging, serving as an inlet for the hydraulic fluid to be replenished, and a second end communicating with the first pair of hydraulic passages and the second pair of hydraulic passages via check valves. The charging passage is connected to a pressure relief line communicating with the inside of the housing via a relief valve, and the inlet port for charging is connected to the reservoir tank via a hydraulic fluid replenishing passage.

[0051] The pump unit of the fourth aspect of the present invention also preferably has the following arrangement. Specifically, the pump unit includes a cooling fan provided near the single unit. The cooling fan is adapted to be driven in synchronism with the first and second hydraulic pumps. The reservoir tank is connected to the single unit in such a manner as to form a clearance therebetween, into which a cooling air stream is drawn from the cooling fan. The hydraulic fluid communication passage and the hydraulic fluid replenishing passage are disposed in such a manner to traverse the clearance. The thus arranged pump unit can limit the temperature increase of the hydraulic fluid stored in the reservoir tank and the housing, and also effectively limit the temperature increase of the hydraulic fluid flowing through the hydraulic fluid replenishing passage and the hydraulic fluid communication passage, thereby improving the transmission efficiency between the hydraulic pumps and the actuators.

[0052] According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pump unit for operation in association with first and second actuators. The pump unit includes: a first hydraulic pump and a second hydraulic pump respectively connected to the first and second actuators via a first pair of hydraulic lines and a second pair of hydraulic lines; a center section supporting the first hydraulic pump and the second hydraulic pump; and a housing accommodating the first hydraulic pump and the second hydraulic pump. The housing is adapted to be used as a hydraulic fluid tank. A hydraulic fluid circulation mechanism is also provided for taking the hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic tank, and again returning the same to the hydraulic tank. The hydraulic fluid circulation mechanism is designed to cool the hydraulic fluid while circulating the same.

[0053] The pump unit of the above arrangement can effectively limit the increase in temperature of the hydraulic fluid stored within the hydraulic tank, thereby effectively preventing deterioration in working efficiency of a hydraulic actuation device.

[0054] Preferably, the circulation mechanism of the pump unit of the fifth aspect of the present invention includes a circulation line, at least a portion of which is formed by a conduit; the circulation line having a first end communicating with the inside of the hydraulic tank and a second end again communicating with the inside of the hydraulic tank, and the conduit has at least a portion provided thereon with cooling fins.

[0055] The pump unit of the fifth aspect of the present invention preferably has the following arrangement. Specifically, the center section is a unitary member on which the first and second hydraulic pumps are supported in parallel relationship with one another. The housing forms an opening in a side thereof, through which the first and second hydraulic pumps can pass. The center section and the housing are integrally connected together to form a single unit, so that the opening of the housing can be sealed in a liquid tight manner by the center section with the first and second hydraulic pumps supported thereon. The center section forms a first pair of hydraulic passages respectively having first ends communicating with the first hydraulic pump and second ends opening to the outside of the center section to form connection ports for connection with the first pair of hydraulic lines, a second pair of hydraulic passages respectively having first ends communicating with the second hydraulic pump and second ends opening to the outside of the center section to form connection ports for connection with the second pair of hydraulic lines, and a charging passage having a first end communicating with the hydraulic fluid tank to form an inlet port for charging, serving as an inlet for the hydraulic fluid to be replenished and a second end communicating with the first pair of hydraulic passages and the second pair of hydraulic passages via check valves. The pump unit further comprises: a charge pump for sucking the hydraulic fluid stored within the hydraulic fluid tank and then discharging the same into the inlet port for charging; a pressure relief line having a first end connected to the charging passage via a relief valve and a second end forming a drain port through which the hydraulic fluid from the relief valve is drained; and a pipe connecting the second end of the pressure relief line with the hydraulic fluid tank; in which the pipe constitutes a conduit, and the charge pump constitutes a part of the hydraulic fluid circulation mechanism.

[0056] The pump unit of the fifth aspect of the present invention also preferably has the following arrangement. Specifically, the center section includes a first center section and a second center section respectively supporting the first and second hydraulic pumps. The housing has first and second sidewalls facing one another and respectively forming a first opening and a second opening through which the first hydraulic pump and the second hydraulic pump can respectively pass. The first and second center sections are integrally connected to the housing to form a single unit, so that the first and second openings of the housing are sealed in a liquid tight manner by the first and second center sections respectively supporting the first and second hydraulic pumps thereon. The first center section forms a first pair of hydraulic passages respectively having first ends communicating with the first hydraulic pump and second ends opening to the outside of the first center section to form connection ports for connection with the first pair of hydraulic lines. The second section forms a second pair of hydraulic passages respectively having first ends communicating with the second hydraulic pump and second ends opening to the outside of the second center section to form connection ports for connection with the second pair of hydraulic lines. At least one of the first and second center sections forms a charging passage having a first end communicating with the hydraulic fluid tank to form an inlet for the hydraulic fluid to be replenished and a second end communicating with the first pair of hydraulic passages and the second pair of hydraulic passages via check valves. The pump unit further comprises: a charge pump for sucking the hydraulic fluid stored within the hydraulic fluid tank and then discharging the same into the inlet port for charging; a pressure relief line having a first end connected to the charging passage via a relief valve and a second end forming a drain port through which the hydraulic fluid from the relief valve is drained; and a pipe connecting the second end of the pressure relief line with the hydraulic fluid tank; in which the pipe constitutes a conduit, and the charge pump constitutes a part of the hydraulic fluid circulation mechanism.

[0057] The pump unit of the fifth aspect of the present invention preferably includes a reservoir tank, in which the reservoir tank is in free fluid communication with the housing via a hydraulic fluid communication passage, and forms a hydraulic fluid tank in cooperation with the housing, in which the inlet port for charging communicates with the reservoir tank via a hydraulic fluid replenishing passage.

[0058] The pump unit of the fifth aspect of the present invention preferably includes cooling fins provided on the hydraulic fluid replenishing passage and the hydraulic fluid communication passage.

[0059] The pump unit of the fifth aspect of the present invention preferably has the following arrangement. Specifically, a cooling fan adapted to be driven in synchronism with the first and second hydraulic pumps is provided near the single unit. The reservoir tank is connected to the single unit in such a manner as to form a clearance therebetween, into which a cooling air stream from the cooling fan is drawn. The hydraulic fluid communication passage and the hydraulic fluid replenishing passage are disposed to transverse the clearance.

[0060] A cooling air duct is preferably provided in the pump unit of the fifth aspect of the present invention, so that a cooling air stream from the cooling fan is drawn into the clearance along the cooling air duct.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0061] The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description thereof in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein.

[0062]FIG. 1 is an expansion plan view of a vehicle to which a pump unit according to first to fifth aspects of the present invention are applied.

[0063]FIG. 2 is a hydraulic circuit diagram of the vehicle to which one embodiment of a pump unit according to the first aspect of the present invention is applied.

[0064]FIG. 3 is a cross sectional plan view of the pump unit according to the embodiment of FIG. 2.

[0065]FIG. 4 is a perspective view with a partially exploded portion of the pump unit of FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0066]FIG. 5 is a cross section taken along lines V-V in FIG. 3.

[0067]FIG. 6 is a cross section taken along lines VI-VI in FIG. 3.

[0068]FIG. 7 is a cross section taken along lines VII-VII in FIG. 3.

[0069]FIG. 8 is a cross section taken along lines VIII-VIII in FIG. 3.

[0070]FIG. 9 is a cross section taken along lines IX-IX in FIG. 3.

[0071]FIG. 10 is a cross section taken along lines X-X in FIG. 3.

[0072]FIG. 11 is a cross section taken along lines XI-XI in FIG. 6.

[0073]FIG. 12 is a plan view of the pump unit of FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0074]FIG. 13 is a longitudinal cross section of a first center section of another embodiment of the pump unit according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0075]FIG. 14 is a cross sectional plan view illustrating a modified example of a pump case in the pump unit of FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0076]FIG. 15 is a hydraulic circuit diagram of the vehicle to which one embodiment of a pump unit according to the second aspect of the present invention is applied.

[0077]FIG. 16 is a longitudinal cross-sectional front view of the pump unit illustrated in FIG. 15.

[0078]FIG. 17 is a cross section taken along lines XVII-XVII in FIG. 16.

[0079]FIG. 18 is a cross section taken along lines XVIII-XVIII in FIG. 16.

[0080]FIG. 19 is a cross section taken along lines XIX-XIX in FIG. 16.

[0081]FIG. 20 is a longitudinal cross-sectional side view of the pump unit according to another embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention.

[0082]FIG. 21 is a longitudinal cross-sectional front view of the pump unit illustrated in FIG. 20.

[0083]FIG. 22 is a cross section taken along lines XXII-XXII in FIG. 20.

[0084]FIG. 23 is a cross section taken along lines XXII-XXII in FIG. 20.

[0085]FIG. 24 is a hydraulic circuit diagram of the vehicle to which one embodiment of a pump unit according to the third aspect of the present invention is applied.

[0086]FIG. 25 is a longitudinal cross-sectional front view of the pump unit illustrated in FIG. 24.

[0087]FIG. 26 is a cross section taken along lines XXVI-XXVI in FIG. 25.

[0088]FIG. 27 is a cross section taken along lines XXVII-XXVII in FIG. 25.

[0089]FIG. 28 is a cross section taken along lines XXVIII-XXVIII in FIG. 25.

[0090]FIG. 29 is a longitudinal cross-sectional side view of the pump unit according to another embodiment of the third aspect of the present invention.

[0091]FIG. 30 is a longitudinal cross-sectional front view of the pump unit illustrated in FIG. 29.

[0092]FIG. 31 is a cross section taken along lines XXXI-XXXI in FIG. 29.

[0093]FIG. 32 is a cross section taken along lines XXXII-XXXII in FIG. 29.

[0094]FIG. 33 is a hydraulic circuit diagram of the vehicle to which one embodiment of a pump unit according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is applied.

[0095]FIG. 34 is a longitudinal cross-sectional side view of the pump unit illustrated in FIG. 33.

[0096]FIG. 35 is a cross section taken along lines XXXV-XXXV in FIG. 34.

[0097]FIG. 36 is a cross section taken along lines XXXVI-XXXVI in FIG. 34.

[0098]FIG. 37 is an enlarged view of a portion XXXVII in FIG. 34.

[0099]FIG. 38 is a cross section taken along lines XXXVIII-XXVIII in FIG. 37.

[0100]FIG. 39 is a cross section taken along lines XXXIX-XXXIX in FIG. 37.

[0101]FIG. 40 is a cross section taken along lines XXXX-XXXX in FIG. 39.

[0102]FIG. 41 is a longitudinal cross-sectional side view of the pump unit according to another embodiment of the fourth aspect of the present invention.

[0103]FIG. 42 is a cross section taken along lines XXXXII-XXXXII in FIG. 41.

[0104]FIG. 43 is a hydraulic circuit diagram of the vehicle to which one embodiment of a pump unit according to the fifth aspect of the present invention is applied.

[0105]FIG. 44 is a longitudinal cross-sectional side view of the pump unit illustrated in FIG. 43.

[0106]FIG. 45 is a cross section taken along lines XXXXV-XXXXV in FIG. 44.

[0107]FIG. 46 is a cross section taken along lines XXXXVI-XXXXVI in FIG. 44.

[0108]FIG. 47 is a cross section taken along lines XXXXVII-XXXXVII in FIG. 44.

[0109]FIG. 48 is a cross section taken along lines XXXXVIII-XXXXVIII in FIG. 44.

[0110]FIG. 49 is a cross section taken along lines XXXXIX-XXXXIX in FIG. 47.

[0111]FIG. 50 is a perspective view of a mounting member.

[0112]FIG. 51 is a longitudinal cross-sectional side view of the pump unit according to another embodiment of the fifth aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0113] First Embodiment

[0114] The first embodiment of the pump unit according to the first aspect of the present invention will be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0115] A pump unit 100 according to the first aspect of the present invention is designed to be operated in association with an actuator that is connected thereto via first and second pairs of hydraulic lines 184 a and 184 b and driven through an effect of pressurized hydraulic fluid in the pair of hydraulic lines. This embodiment will be described by taking for example the case that hydraulic motors 182 a and 182 b each are used as the actuator.

[0116]FIGS. 1 and 2 are respectively an expansion plan view of a vehicle to which the pump unit 100 of this embodiment is applied, and a hydraulic circuit of the vehicle. FIG. 3 is a cross sectional plan view of the pump unit and its periphery. FIG. 4 is a perspective view with a partially exploded portion of the pump unit. FIGS. 5 to 10 are respectively cross sections taken along lines V-V, VI-VI, VII-VII, VIII-VIII, IX-IX, and X-X in FIG. 3. FIG. 11 is a cross section taken along lines XI-XI in FIG. 6. The reference codes 185, 197 a and 197 b, and 199 in FIG. 1 respectively represent a reservoir tank, caster wheels, and a driver seat.

[0117] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the pump unit 100 includes a first hydraulic pump 110 a, a second hydraulic pump 110 b, a pump case 120 that accommodates the first and second hydraulic pumps 110 a and 110 b and has an opening 121 c through which the hydraulic pumps are inserted into the pump case 120, and a center section 130 connected to the pump case so as to close the opening of the pump case.

[0118] In this embodiment, the pump unit 100 is explained as having a pair of hydraulic pumps. However, the first aspect of the present invention is not necessarily limited to this arrangement. Rather, it is applicable to the case where a single hydraulic pump is used, or three or more than three hydraulic pumps are used.

[0119] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the first and second hydraulic pumps 110 a and 110 b are of a variable displacement type, which has a variable input/output flow rates through the operation of a swash plate. The hydraulic pumps 110 a and 110 b are respectively connected to the first and second hydraulic motors 182 a and 182 b serving as the actuator, via the first pair of hydraulic lines 184 a and the second pair of hydraulic lines 184 b.

[0120] Accordingly, varying the input/output flow rates of each of the hydraulic pumps 110 a and 11 b through the swash plate causes the pressure difference between the first pair of hydraulic lines 184 a, and the second pair of hydraulic lines 184 b. According to the operational angle of the swash plate, motor shafts of the first hydraulic motor 182 a and/or the second hydraulic motor 182 b are rotated, and drive wheels 183 a and 183 b that are operatively connected to the motor shafts are driven. The reference codes 180 and 181 in FIG. 2 respectively represent a power source and a cooling fan.

[0121] As described above, the first and second hydraulic pumps 110 a and 110 b according to this embodiment are of the variable displacement type, and the first and second hydraulic motors 182 a and 182 b in association with the hydraulic pumps 110 a and 110 b are of a fixed displacement type. However, the first aspect of the present invention is not necessarily limited to this arrangement. That is, it is possible to employ the hydraulic pumps of the fixed displacement type, and the hydraulic motors of the variable displacement type driven by the hydraulic pumps or the hydraulic pumps and the hydraulic motors, both of which are of the variable displacement type.

[0122] In this embodiment, the first and second hydraulic pumps 110 a and 110 b are of an axial piston type. Alternatively, the pump unit may employ the hydraulic pumps of a radial piston type.

[0123] As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, the first and second hydraulic pumps 110 a and 110 b respectively include a first hydraulic pump shaft 111 a and a second hydraulic pump shaft 111 b, both of which are disposed parallel to one another, a first piston unit 112 a and a second piston unit 112 b that are reciprocatingly movable according to the rotation of the pump shafts, a first cylinder block 113 a and a second cylinder block 113 b that reciprocably support the piston units, a first angularly adjustable swash plate 114 a and a second angularly adjustable swash plate 114 b that regulate the stroke lengths of the piston units by varying their tilting angles to vary their input/output flow rates, and a first control shaft 115 a and a second control shaft 115 b that control the tilting angles of these swash plates.

[0124] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the first control shaft 115 a has an inner end extending into the pump case 120 and connected to the first angularly adjustable swash plate 114 a via an arm 116 a, and an outer end extending vertically above the pump case 120. The second control shaft 115 b has a similar arrangement (not shown).

[0125] In this embodiment, the pump unit 100 is of a horizontal type that has the horizontally extending first and second hydraulic pump shafts 111 a and 111 b. However, the first aspect of the present invention is not necessarily limited to this arrangement. Rather, it is a matter of course to employ the pump unit of a vertical type that has the vertically extending first and second hydraulic pump shafts 111 a and 111 b.

[0126] The pump unit 100 further includes a neutral position return mechanism 150 that returns the swash plates 114 a and 114 b of the first and second hydraulic pumps 110 a and 110 b to their respective neutral positions. A plan view of a portion of the pump unit 100 is illustrated in FIG. 12.

[0127] The neutral position return mechanism 150 includes a first neutral position return mechanism 150 a for the first hydraulic pump 110 a, and a second neutral position return mechanism 150 b for the second hydraulic pump 110 b disposed on a common base plate 150 c mounted on the upper surface of the pump case 120. The following description, which will be made for the first neutral position return mechanism 150 a, will also be applicable for the second neutral position return mechanism 150 b.

[0128] As illustrated in FIG. 12, the first neutral position return mechanism 150 a includes a connecting arm 151 with a first end pivotably connected to a connecting member 192 a connected to a control lever 198 a (see FIG. 1) and a second end nonrotatably connected to the control shaft 115 a, a swing arm 152 a with a proximal end non-rotatably connected to the control shaft 115 a and a distal end as a free end, and an eccentric pin 153 a detachably fixed to the upper surface of the pump case 120.

[0129] The swing arm 152 a has a distal edge defining a deepest part 193 a near the shaft center of the control shaft 115 a, and cam surfaces laterally extending from the deepest part in such a manner as to gradually increase the distance from the shaft center of the control shaft 115 a as they extend away from the deepest part.

[0130] The eccentric pin 153 a has a first shaft portion 195 a mounted on the upper surface of the base plate 150 c, and a second shaft portion 196 a extending upwardly from the first shaft portion 195 a. The second shaft portion has the shaft center eccentric to that of the first shaft portion, so that the second shaft portion 196 a has the shaft center rotated around the shaft center of the first shaft portion 195 a through the rotation of the first shaft portion 195 a around the shaft center thereof.

[0131] The first neutral position return mechanism 150 a further includes a pressing arm 154 a with a proximal end rotatably supported on the second shaft portion 196 a of the eccentric pin 150, and a distal end as a free end. The pressing arm 154 a is provided with a roller 155 a engageable with the distal edge of the swing arm 152 a. The pressing arm 154 a and the swing arm 152 a are disposed in such a manner as to have the roller 155 a engageable with the deepest part 193 a of the swing arm 152 a, when the swash plate of the hydraulic pump 110 a lies at the neutral position.

[0132] Specifically, the pressing arm 154 a is positioned such that the roller 155 a is engaged with the deepest part 193 a of the swing arm 152 a, while holding the swash plate of the hydraulic pump 110 a at a position to be considered as the neutral position. At this time, there may occur the case where the hydraulic pump 110 a is not brought into a neutral state due to assembling errors or the like. Specifically, there may occur the case the swing arm 152 a must be rotated by a predetermined angle in either direction around the shaft center of the control shaft 115 a from a predetermined design position illustrated in FIG. 12, in order to have the swash plate lying at the neutral position.

[0133] Even if such a positional error occurs, the first neutral position return mechanism 150 can adjust the relative displacement between the control shaft 115 a and the connecting member 192 a easily. Specifically, in the first neutral position return mechanism 150, the eccentric pin 153 a has the second shaft portion 196 a as the supporting point of the pressing arm 154 a, which shaft portion is eccentric to the first shaft portion 195 a, thereby allowing the second shaft portion 196 a to have the shaft center easily adjustable through the rotation of the first shaft portion 195 a around the shaft center thereof, and hence the roller 155 a to have an easily adjustable distance relative to the swing arm 152 a. Thus, the roller 155 a can easily be brought into engagement with the deepest part 193 a of the swing arm 152 a, even when the hydraulic pump 110 a cannot come into the neutral state without the rotation of the swing arm 152 a by a predetermined angle around the shaft center of the control shaft 115 from the predetermined design position.

[0134] The first neutral position return mechanism 150 a further includes a spring member 156 a to urge the roller 155 a towards the distal edge of the swing arm 152 a.

[0135] The first neutral position return mechanism 150 a having the above arrangement performs in the following manner. When the driver operates the mechanism 150 a through the shifting operation of a control lever 198 a provided near the driver seat, the connecting member 192 a is slidingly moved along either direction (F or R with N therebetween) indicated by the arrows of FIG. 12 according to the shifting operation of the control lever 198 a, thereby pivotally moving the connecting arm 151 a, and hence rotating the control shaft 115 a. The swash plate can be thus tilted according to the shifting operation of the control lever.

[0136] On the other hand, when the driver releases the control lever 198 a from its operational state where the swash plate is held in a tilted position, the first neutral position return mechanism 150 a can automatically return the swash plate of the hydraulic pump to the neutral position. Specifically, since the swash plate tilted in either direction from the neutral position causes the control shaft 115 a to be rotated around the shaft center thereof in either direction from the neutral position, the swing arm 152 a is pivotally moved in either direction around the shaft center of the control shaft 115 a according to the rotation angle of the control shaft 115 a. Accordingly, the roller 155 a is engaged with one of the cam surfaces defined by the distal edge of the swing arm 152 a. As described above, since the roller 155 a is constantly urged towards the distal edge of the swing arm 152 a by the spring member 156 a, the swing arm 152 a automatically returns to the neutral position, at which the roller 155 a is engaged with the deepest part 193 a, through a camming effect between the roller 155 a and the cum surface 194 a by releasing the control lever from the operational state where the roller 155 a is engaged with the cum surface 194 a.

[0137] Thus, the first neutral position return mechanism 150 a performs so that the swash plate of the hydraulic pump 110 a automatically returns to the neutral position in response to releasing the control lever 198 a from the operational state.

[0138] The second neutral position return mechanism 150 b has a similar arrangement. Accordingly, the right and left control levers 198 a and 198 b are controlled independently of each other, so that the first and second hydraulic pumps can have the swash plates tilted independently of each other. Both control levers 198 a and 198 b are released from the operational states to stop the vehicle without any delay.

[0139] As best illustrated in FIG. 3, the pump unit 100 further includes a power transmission mechanism 158 that is accommodated within the housing 120 to operatively connect the first hydraulic pump shaft 111 a to the second hydraulic pump shaft 111 b.

[0140] The power transmission mechanism 158 provided in the pump unit 100 can simultaneously drive both hydraulic pump shafts 111 a and 111 b only by connecting the power source 180 to either one of the first hydraulic pump shaft 111 a and the second hydraulic pump shaft 111 b, resulting in a simple transmission arrangement between the power source 180 and the pump unit 100.

[0141] In this embodiment, the power transmission mechanism 158 is in the form of a gear transmission device that includes a first gear 158 a non-rotatably supported on the first hydraulic pump shaft 111 a, and a second gear 158 b non-rotatably supported on the second hydraulic pump shaft 111 b in meshed engagement with the first gear 158 a. Instead of the gear transmission device, any conventional power transmission mechanisms such as chain and belt may be used.

[0142] The pump case 120 is sealed in a liquid tight manner by the center section 130, thereby reserving the hydraulic fluid within the pump case 120. Specifically, the pump case 120 also serves as a part of a reservoir tank. The reference code 145 in FIGS. 4 and 7 represents a hole used along with a separately provided hydraulic fluid tank to communicate the inside of the pump case with the hydraulic fluid tank.

[0143] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the pump case 120 includes a first pump case 121 for accommodating the first and second hydraulic pumps 110 a and 110 b, and a second pump case 122 for accommodating the power transmission mechanism 158.

[0144] As best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, the first pump case 121 has a box shape with a first side wall 121 a disposed in either side along the longitudinal direction of the hydraulic pump shafts 111 a and 111 b, or in this embodiment in the front side of the vehicle, which will be hereinafter referred to simply as the front side, and a peripheral wall 121 b extending from a peripheral edge of the first sidewall 121 a to the opposite side of the pump unit 100 along the longitudinal direction of the hydraulic pump shafts 111 a and 111 b (i.e., the rear side of the vehicle in this embodiment, which will be referred to simply as the rear side). The first sidewall 121 a forms bearing holes through which the first and second hydraulic pump shafts 111 a and 111 b respectively extend. The rear side has an end surface defining the opening 121 c for receiving the first and second hydraulic pumps 110 a and 110 b. The opening of the pump case 121 is sealed by the center section 130 in a liquid tight manner.

[0145] The second pump case 122 has a box shape with a front sidewall 122 a and a peripheral wall 122 b extending from a peripheral edge of the front sidewall 122 a to the rear side to form a box shape. The front sidewall 122 a forms a bearing hole through which the front end portion of the first hydraulic pump shaft 111 b extend, and a bearing portion for supporting the front end portion of the second hydraulic pump shaft 111 b, The rear side of the second pump case 122 has an end surface forming an opening 122 c for receiving the power transmission mechanism 150.

[0146] The second pump case 122 is connected to the first pump case 121 so that the opening 122 c can be sealed by the first sidewall 121 a of the first pump case 121 in a liquid tight manner, and forms an accommodation space of the power transmission mechanism 158 in cooperation with the first sidewall 121 a of the first pump case 121.

[0147] In the thus arranged pump case 120, the first sidewall 121 a of the first pump case 121 serves as a partition wall dividing the pump case accommodation space into a hydraulic pump accommodation chamber and a power transmission mechanism accommodation chamber. The partition wall thus defining the hydraulic pump accommodation chamber and the power transmission mechanism accommodation chamber can effectively prevent any foreign matters such as iron powder generated in the power transmission mechanism 158 from intruding into the hydraulic pump accommodation chamber, and hence damaging piston units 112 a, 112 b, cylinder blocks 113 a, 113 b and/or other parts. A seal ring, oil seal or the like may also be provided around the peripheral surface of the first and second hydraulic pump shafts 111 a and 111 b extending through the partition wall 121 a to more securely prevent the intrusion of the foreign matters.

[0148] Portions of the pump case 120, through which the respective shafts 111 a, 115 a and 115 b extend, are sealed by any suitable sealing means in a liquid tight manner, thereby allowing the pump case 120 to serve as a hydraulic fluid tank.

[0149] As illustrated in FIG. 6, the first sidewall 121 a serving as the partition wall more preferably forms a hydraulic fluid communication hole 123 for communication between the hydraulic pump accommodation chamber and the power transmission mechanism accommodation chamber with a filter 124 provided in the hole for preventing the intrusion of the foreign matters into the hydraulic pump accommodation chamber. The thus formed hydraulic fluid communication hole 123 can omit the necessity of separately feeding lubricant to the power transmission mechanism 158, with the result that the power transmission mechanism 158 can be lubricated with the hydraulic fluid stored within the pump case 120. This permits low manufacturing cost and ease of maintenance.

[0150] Hydraulic fluid communication holes 123 are preferably and respectively be provided with the meshed point of the first gear 158 a and the second gear 158 b therebetween, and more particularly at the downstream and upstream sides with respect to the rotational direction of the first gear 158 a and the second gear 158 b. The thus arranged hydraulic fluid communication holes 123 achieve an efficient circulation of the hydraulic fluid between the hydraulic pump accommodation chamber and the power transmission mechanism accommodation chamber.

[0151] In this embodiment, the first and second angularly adjustable swash plates 114 a and 114 b are of a cradle type, as illustrated in FIG. 3. Therefore, when the partition wall 121 a forms, on its side facing the hydraulic pumps 110 a, 110 b, spherical concave surfaces 126 a and 126 b respectively adapted to spherical convex surfaces 116 a and 116 b formed in the rear portions of the swash plates 114 a and 114 b, which rear portions being opposite to the surfaces facing the piston units 112 a and 112 b, the spherical concave surfaces 126 a and 126 b can slidingly guide the spherical convex surfaces 116 a and 116 b of the swash plates 114 a and 114 b thereon. The swash plates thus can be securely positioned on the spherical concave surfaces 126 a and 126 b.

[0152] In this embodiment, the first sidewall 121 a of the first pump case 121 serves as the partition wall. Alternatively, a partitioning means may take various forms, as long as it can produce the same effect. For example, a separately prepared partition wall 121 a′ may be mounted in a first pump case 121′ having a simple box shape, as illustrated in FIG. 14. This arrangement is advantageous in that the spherical concave surfaces 116 a and 116 b can easily be formed.

[0153] Now, the description will be made for the center section 130. As best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, the center section 130 includes a first center section 131 connected to the pump case 120 through direct contact to the rear side of the pump case 120 for sealing the opening 121, and a second center section 132 connected to the first center section 131 in such a manner as to surround a charge pump 160 operatively driven by the hydraulic pump shaft 111 a of the first hydraulic pump 110 a.

[0154] The center section 130, as illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7, forms a first pair of inlet/outlet passages 133 a having first ends respectively communicating with inlet and outlet ports of the first hydraulic pump 110 a and second ends opening to the outside of the center section 130 through a pump-case abutting surface 131 a of the first center section 131, and a second pair of inlet/outlet passages 133 b having first ends respectively communicating with inlet and outlet ports of the second hydraulic pump 110 b and second ends opening to the outside of the center section 130 through the pump-case abutting surface 131 a of the first center section 131. Both pairs of the passages 133 a and 133 b are disposed parallel with each other.

[0155] The center section 130 forms a first charging passage 134 having a first end communicating with an outlet port of the charge pump 160, and a second end formed in the pump-case abutting surface 131 a of the first center section 131.

[0156] The first pair of inlet/outlet passages 133 a constitutes a part of the first pair of hydraulic lines 184 a communicating between the first hydraulic pump 110 a and the first hydraulic motor 183 a. On the other hand, the second pair of inlet/outlet passages 133 b constitutes a part of the second pair of hydraulic lines 184 b communicating between the second hydraulic pump 110 b and the second hydraulic motor 183 b (see FIG. 2).

[0157] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the center section 130 forms a pressure relief line 135 communicating with the first charging passage 134. The pressure relief line 135 is provided therein with a relief valve 161 for adjusting the hydraulic pressure of the first charging passage 134. In this embodiment, the relief valve 161 is disposed in the second center section 132, as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11.

[0158] At least one of the pump case 120 and the center section 130 forms a communication passage communicating between the first pair of inlet/outlet passages 133 a and the second pair of inlet/outlet passages 133 b, and the first charging passage 134 via their second ends.

[0159] In this embodiment, a first center section abutting surface 121 e of the first housing, as best illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 8, forms a single fluid groove 136 extending over the second ends of the first pair of inlet/outlet passages 133 a and the second pair of inlet/outlet passages 133 b. The first charging passage 134 has the second end communicating with the fluid passage groove 136.

[0160] Charging check valves 162 a, 162 b, 162 c and 162 d are provided in such a manner as to be installable through the abutting surface 131 a of the first center section 131 or the abutting surface 121 e of the first housing 121, as best illustrated in FIG. 4. These valves are designed to allow the flow of the hydraulic fluid from the first charging passage 134 to the first pair of inlet/outlet passages 133 a and the second pair of inlet/outlet passages 133 b, while preventing the reverse flow.

[0161] The installation of those charging check valves through the first center section abutting surface 121 e of the first housing 121 or the first housing abutting surface of the first center section 131 produces the following effects.

[0162] Specifically, since a die pattern of the fluid passage groove 136 can be formed in a die for the first housing 121 or the first center section 121, it is not necessary to additionally bore holes for receiving the charging check valves 162 a to 162 d. This omits the necessity of a conventionally required machining process, resulting in a lower manufacturing cost.

[0163] Since the charging check valves 162 can be secured in position only by connecting the first housing 121 to the first center section 131, a covering member or other check valve fixing means can be omitted. This arrangement can reduce the number of parts, resulting in a lower manufacturing cost and an improved assembling efficiency.

[0164] As illustrated in FIGS. 4, 8 and 11, the center section abutting surface 121 e of the pump case 120 forms an escape groove 137 surrounding the fluid passage groove 136 and having at least one terminal portion communicating with the inside of the pump case for the discharge of the leaked hydraulic fluid.

[0165] With the escape groove 137, the hydraulic fluid, which flows from the first charging passage 134 to the first pair of inlet/outlet passages 133 a and the second pair of inlet/outlet passages 133 b via the fluid passage groove 136, is prevented from leaking to the outside through the abutting portion between the first pump case 121 and the first center section 131. Specifically, the hydraulic fluid leaked out of the fluid passage groove 136 is held in the escape groove 137, and then returned to the inside of the pump case 120. Whereby, the leakage of the hydraulic fluid outwards of the case from the abutting portion between the first pump case 121 and the first center section 131 can effectively be prevented.

[0166] Leak lines 163 a and 163 b each having a throttle valve are preferably formed between the first charging passage 134 and at least one of the first pair of inlet/outlet passages 133 a, and between the first charging passage 134 and at least one of the second pair of inlet/outlet passages 133 b (see FIG. 2).

[0167] The leak lines 163 a and 163 b are designed to assure the neutralization of the hydraulic pumps 110 a and 110 b. Specifically, even if the swash plates 114 a and 114 b of the hydraulic pumps 110 a and 110 b tilt from the neutral positions by a small angle, there occurs the pressure difference between the first pair of hydraulic lines 184 a, and/or between the second pair of hydraulic lines 184 b. This pressure difference causes the rotation of the hydraulic motors 182 a and 182 b. That is, even a slight amount of the displacement between the actual neutral positions and the predetermined design positions of the swash plates 114 a and 114 b due to assembling error or the like causes an unintentional rotation of the hydraulic motors 182 a and 182 b. On the contrary, the leak lines 163 a and 163 b, as described above, allow the pressurized hydraulic fluid to leak therethrough from the first pair of hydraulic lines 184 a or the second pair of hydraulic lines 184 b. Thus, the swash plates can have the neutral positions of a broadened effective area by effectively limiting the pressure difference between the pair of first hydraulic lines 184 a, and/or between the second pair of hydraulic lines 184 b, thereby effectively avoiding the unintentional rotation of the hydraulic motors 182 a and 182 b, even for the swash plates 114 a and 114 b having the actual neutral position displaced from the design neutral position due to the assembling errors or the like.

[0168] In view of transmission efficiency between the hydraulic pumps 110 a, 110 b and the hydraulic motors 182 a, 182 b, the leakage of the pressurized hydraulic fluid from the first and second pairs of hydraulic lines 184 a, 184 b through the leak lines 163 a, 163 b is not preferable. Therefore, the leak lines 163 a, 163 b are preferably provided in portions from the first charging passage 133 to one of the first pair of inlet/outlet passages 133 a, and to one of the second pair of inlet/outlet passages 133 b, and more preferably to one of the first pair of inlet/outlet passages 133 a which has a higher pressure during rearward movement of the vehicle. This is because the forward movement of the vehicle frequently occurs as compared with the rearward movement.

[0169] The first center section 131, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 7, forms a first bypass passage 138 a for communication between the first pair of inlet/outlet passages 133 a, and a second bypass passage 138 b for communication between the second pair of inlet/outlet passages 133 b. Although the following description will be made for the first bypass passage 138 a, it is also applicable for the second bypass passage 138 b.

[0170] In this embodiment, the first pair of inlet/outlet passages 133 a are formed parallel to one another, and the first bypass passage 138 a is formed orthogonal to the pair of first inlet/outlet passages, as best illustrated in FIG. 7. This arrangement achieves the communication between the first pair of inlet/outlet passages 133 a by forming only a single hole.

[0171] The first bypass passage 138 a includes a first bypass valve 140 a adapted to take a communication position and a cutoff position respectively for bringing the first pair of inlet/outlet passages 133 a into and out of communication with one another. The first bypass valve 140, as illustrated in FIG. 7, has a proximal end portion 141 a extending to the outside of the first center section 131 to be operated from the outside of the first center section 131, allowing the first bypass valve 140 a to take the communication position and the cutoff position.

[0172] Specifically, the first bypass passage 138 a includes an inwardly threaded portion 139 a having a proximal end opening to the outside of the first center section 131 and an inner threaded circumferential surface, a middle portion 139 b extending inwardly from the inner end of the inwardly threaded portion 139 a in such a manner as to straddle an adjacent one of the first pair of inlet/outlet passages 133 a, a distal end portion 139 c having a diameter smaller than the middle portion 139 b with a stepped portion and communicating with a remote one of the first pair of inlet/outlet passages 133 a.

[0173] On the other hand, the first bypass valve 140 a includes a proximal end portion 141 a lying outside of the first center section 131, an outwardly threaded portion 141 b distally extending from the proximal end portion 141 a and having an outer threaded circumferential surface for threaded engagement with the inner threaded circumferential surface 139 a, a seal portion 141 c distally extending from the outwardly threaded portion 141 b and liquid-tightly engageable with the middle portion 139 b at the proximal side with respect to the adjacent one of the first pair of inlet/outlet passages 133 a, and an abutting portion 141 d distally extending from the seal portion 141 c and having a shape adapted to the stepped portion for sealed contact between the abutting portion and the stepped portion. The first bypass valve 140 a thus can take the cutoff position with the abutting portion 141 d abutting the stepped portion, and the communication position with the abutting portion 141 d located away from the stepped portion, through the axial sliding motion of the first bypass valve 140 a caused by the rotation of the first bypass valve 140 a around the axis thereof via the proximal end portion 141 a.

[0174] A release means including the first bypass passage 138 a and the first bypass valve 140 a, as well as the second bypass passage 138 b and the second bypass valve 140 b is designed to easily move the vehicle, when the vehicle must forcibly be moved or the vehicle wheels must forcibly be rotated by man power or the like due to the disorder of the power source 180, the hydraulic pumps 110 a, 110 b or the like. Specifically, when the vehicle wheels connected to the hydraulic motors 182 a and 182 b are forcibly rotated with the first pair of hydraulic lines 184 a and/or the second pair of hydraulic lines 184 b lying in the closing state, there occurs the pressure difference between the first pair of hydraulic lines 184 a, and between the second pair of hydraulic lines 184 b. As a result, the vehicle is hardly moved, or the vehicle wheels are hardly rotated. On the contrary, the release means can easily achieve the communications between the first pair of hydraulic lines 184 a, and between the second pair of hydraulic lines 184 b without the necessity of mechanically releasing all the check valves 162 a to 162 d. Whereby, the vehicle can easily be moved by man power or the like.

[0175] In this embodiment, the first pair of inlet/outlet passages 133 a and the second pair of inlet/outlet passages 133 b, as illustrated in FIG. 7, respectively have connecting ports formed in the same side of the first center section 31, resulting in an easy piping work between these connecting ports and the hydraulic motors 182 a and 182 b.

[0176] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5, the first center section 131 and the second center section 132 forms a second charging passage 142 with a first end communication with the inside of the pump case 120 and a second end communicating with the first charging passage 134. The second charging passage 142 is designed to prevent the flow of the hydraulic fluid from the first charging passage 134 to the pump case 120, and feed an additional amount of the hydraulic fluid from the pump case 120 to the first and second pairs of hydraulic lines 184 a and 184 b when these lines have a reduced amount of the hydraulic fluid.

[0177] In this embodiment, the second charging passage 142 includes a check valve 143 for allowing the flow of the hydraulic fluid from the pump case 120 to the first charging passage 134 while preventing the reverse flow, thereby producing the above mentioned effect. Although the charge pump 160 may be somewhat deteriorated in operation efficiently, it is possible to employ a throttle valve instead of the check valve 143.

[0178] Providing the second charging passage 142 can effectively prevent the vehicle from being brought into a so-called free wheel phenomenon, which occurs when the vehicle stopping on a sloping road is accidentally moved downwardly, causing the rotation of the wheels. That is, for the stopped vehicle, the hydraulic pumps 110 a and 110 b have the swash plates lying at the neutral position. In this state, when the vehicle is stopped on, for example, a slopped road, the vehicle is subjected to a force possibly causing the rotation of the wheels through the vehicle weight, or the rotation of the motor shafts of the hydraulic motors 182 a and 182 b Since the hydraulic pumps 110 a and 110 b are set in the neutral state, the hydraulic pumps 182 a and 182 b subjected to such force causes one of the first pair of hydraulic lines 184 a and one of the second pair of hydraulic lines 184 b to have a highly pressurized hydraulic fluid, and the remaining ones to have a low pressurized hydraulic fluid. The hydraulic fluid exceeding a predetermined pressure level in the hydraulic lines causes the leakage through a gap in cylinder blocks of the hydraulic pumps in communication with such highly pressurized hydraulic lines. Whereby, the amounts of the hydraulic fluids in the pairs of hydraulic lines are reduced, facilitating the free rotation of the motor shafts easier.

[0179] On the contrary, the second charging passage 142 of this embodiment sucks the hydraulic fluid within the pump case when the first pair of hydraulic lines 184 a has reduced amount of the hydraulic fluid, resulting in a negative pressure in these lines. Specifically, the second charging passage 142 can prevent the pair of the hydraulic lines from having a reduced amount of the hydraulic fluid, and hence the motor shafts from being freely rotated.

[0180] As illustrated in FIGS. 3, 6, 9 and 10, the second center section 132 is provided at its rear end with a filter 186. The second center section 132 forms an inlet line 165 having a first end communication with the charge pump 160 a through its inlet opening and a second end communicating with the filter 186, and a filter line 166 having a first end communicating with the filter 186 and a second end communicating with a hydraulic fluid tank (not shown), thereby allowing the hydraulic fluid fed from the tank and passing through the filter 186 and the filter line 166 to be sucked into the charge pump 160 through the inlet opening.

[0181] The pump unit 100 of this embodiment constitutes a single unit by unitedly connecting the first and second hydraulic pumps 110 a and 110 b, the center section 130 and the housing 120 together. Therefore, both first and second pumps 110 a and 110 b can be installed on the vehicle only by mounting the single unit on the vehicle, resulting in an improved efficiency in assembling the vehicle.

[0182] Second Embodiment

[0183] The second embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 13. FIG. 13 is a longitudinal cross section of a first center section 131′ of a pump unit 100 according to this embodiment, which figure corresponding to FIG. 7 illustrating the aforementioned first embodiment.

[0184] In this embodiment, the first bypass line 138 a and the second bypass line 138 b are replaced by a single common line 138. In the following description, corresponding or identical parts to those of the first embodiment have been given the same reference characters or those with primes (′) to omit a detailed description thereof.

[0185] The common bypass line 138′ has a proximal end portion opening outwardly and a distal end portion communicating with all the first and second pairs of inlet/outlet passages 133 a and 133 b.

[0186] The common bypass line 138′ includes a single bypass valve 140′ to be operated from the outside of the first center section 131′ for the communication and the cutoff of the hydraulic fluid between the first pair of inlet/outlet passages 133 a, and between the second pair of inlet/outlet passages 133 b.

[0187] In addition to the desirable effects produced by the first embodiment, the pump unit of the second embodiment can achieve an effective boring operation and lower manufacturing cost through the reduction of the number of parts.

[0188] In each of the aforementioned embodiments, the description has been made for the case that a pair of hydraulic pumps is included. However, it is not necessary to limit the number of the hydraulic pumps to that of these embodiments. The present invention is applicable to the arrangement where a single hydraulic pump, or more than two hydraulic pumps are included.

[0189] Third Embodiment

[0190] One embodiment of the pump unit according to the second aspect of the present invention will be hereinafter described with reference to FIGS. 15 to 19. FIG. 15 is a hydraulic circuit diagram of the vehicle to which a pump unit 200 of this embodiment is applied. FIG. 16 is a longitudinal cross-sectional front view of the pump unit and its periphery. FIGS. 17 to 19 are respectively cross sections taken along lines XVII-XVII, XVIII-XVIII, and XIX-XIX.

[0191] As illustrated in FIGS. 15 to 17, the pump unit 200 is adapted to be used in a vehicle having right and left drive wheels 283 a and 283 b to which first and second hydraulic motors 282 a and 282 b are respectively connected, and includes a first hydraulic pump 210 a and a second hydraulic pump 210 b respectively connected to the first and second hydraulic motors 282 a and 282 b via a first pair of hydraulic lines 284 a and a second pair of hydraulic lines 284 b, and a common housing 220 for accommodating these hydraulic pumps 210 a and 210 b.

[0192] The connection form between the right and left drive wheels 283 a and 283 b, and the first and second hydraulic motors 282 a and 282 b meant in this embodiment includes the direct connection of the drive wheels respectively to those hydraulic motors, and also an operative connection of the drive wheels respectively to the hydraulic motors via a suitable power transmission mechanism. In FIG. 15, the reference codes 280, 281 and 285 respectively represent a power source, a cooling fan and a hydraulic fluid tank.

[0193] As illustrated in FIGS. 16, 17 and 19, the first hydraulic pump 210 a and the second hydraulic pump 210 b are axial piston pumps of a variable displacement type, and respectively include a first pump shaft 211 a and a second pump shaft 211 b that have vertical axes and are disposed parallel to one another in the vehicle width direction within the housing 220, a first piston unit 212 a and a second piston unit 212 b that are reciprocatingly movable according to the rotation of the pump shafts, a first cylinder block 213 a and a second cylinder block 213 b that reciprocably support the piston units, a first angularly adjustable swash plate 214 a and a second angularly adjustable swash plate 214 b that regulate the stroke length of the piston units by varying their tilting angles to vary the input/output flow rates of the piston units, and a first control shaft 215 a and a second control shaft 215 b that control the tilting angles of these swash plates.

[0194] The pump unit of this embodiment is of a vertical type with the first and second pump shafts 211 a and 211 b having the vertical axes. However, the second aspect of the present invention is not necessarily limited to this arrangement. It is a matter of course that the pump unit 200 can be of a horizontal type with the first and second pump shafts 211 a and 211 b having the horizontal axes.

[0195] As best illustrated in FIG. 16, the first and second angularly adjustable swash plates 214 a and 214 b of this embodiment are of a cradle type.

[0196] As illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 19, the first control shaft 215 a and the second control shaft 215 b extend away from one another in the vehicle width direction to respectively have oppositely positioned outer ends, and inner ends extending into the housing 220 to be respectively connected to arms 216 a and 216 b and hence the first and second swash plates 214 a and 214 b. The pump unit 200 with the thus arranged first and second control shafts 215 a and 215 b is advantageous when installed on the vehicle having push-pull control levers 198 a and 198 b as illustrated in FIG. 1, since the first and second control shafts 215 a and 215 b can have the rotating shaft centers disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the control levers, thereby achieving the simplification of a link mechanism between these control shafts and the control levers.

[0197] The first control shaft 215 a and the second control shaft 215 b are more preferably located at substantially the same position with respect to the vehicle longitudinal direction, as illustrated in FIG. 16. The thus arranged first and second control shafts 215 a and 215 b can be aligned with the control levers in the vehicle width direction, thereby achieving a more simplified structure of the link mechanism.

[0198] The pump unit 200 further includes a common center section 230 that supports the first and second hydraulic pumps 210 a and 210 b, and a power transmission mechanism 240 that is accommodated within the housing 220 to operatively connect the first and second hydraulic pump shafts 211 a and 211 b together.

[0199] The pump unit 200 with the power transmission mechanism 240 permits the simultaneous rotation of both pump shafts 211 a and 211 b only by connecting the power source to either one of the first and second pump shafts 211 a and 211 b, or to the first pump shaft 211 a in this embodiment, thereby achieving the simplified structure for the power transmission from the power source to the pump unit 200. In this embodiment, the power transmission mechanism 240 is in the form of a gear transmission device that includes a first gear 240 a non-rotatably supported on the lower side of the first pump shaft 211 a, and a second gear 240 b non-rotatably supported on the lower side of the second pump shaft 211 b in meshed engagement with the first gear 240 a. Instead of the gear transmission device, any conventional power transmission mechanisms such as chain and belt may be used.

[0200] The housing 220, as illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17, includes a first housing 221 for accommodating the first and second hydraulic pumps 210 a and 210 b, and a second housing 225 for accommodating the power transmission mechanism 240.

[0201] The first housing 221 has a box shape with a first sidewall 222 disposed in the upper or lower side of the pump shafts 211 a and 211 b along the longitudinal direction thereof, or in this embodiment in the lower side of the pump shafts 211 a and 211 b, which will be hereinafter referred to simply as the lower side, and a peripheral wall 223 extending from a peripheral edge of the first sidewall 222 to the opposite side of the pump shafts 211 a and 211 b along the longitudinal direction thereof (i.e., the upper side of the pump shafts 211 a and 211 b in this embodiment, which will be referred to simply as the upper side). The first sidewall 222 forms bearing holes through which the first and second pump shafts 211 a and 211 b respectively extend. The upper side of the first housing 221 has an end surface forming an opening through which the first and second hydraulic pumps 210 a and 210 b can be placed into the first housing 221. The opening of the first housing 221 is sealed by the center section 230 in a liquid tight manner. That is, the center section 230 of this embodiment constitutes a part of the first housing 221. The first and second control shafts 215 a and 215 b extend away from one another in the vehicle width direction to respectively have outer ends protruding from the peripheral wall 223 of the first housing 221.

[0202] The second housing 225 is disposed in the lower side, and has a box shape with a lower sidewall 226 forming a bearing hole through which the lower end of the first pump shaft 211 a extends and a bearing portion for receiving the lower end of the second pump shaft 211 b, and a peripheral wall 227 extending upwardly from a peripheral edge of the lower sidewall 226. The upper side of the second housing 225 forms an opening through which the power transmission mechanism 240 can be placed into the second housing 225.

[0203] The second housing 225 is connected to the first housing 221 in such a manner as to have the opening sealed in a liquid tight manner by the first sidewall 222 of the first housing 221, and form an accommodation space of the power transmission mechanism 240 in cooperation with the first sidewall 222 of the first housing 221.

[0204] In the thus arranged housing 220, the first sidewall 222 of the first housing 221 serves as a partition wall dividing the accommodation space of the housing into a hydraulic pump accommodation chamber and a power transmission mechanism accommodation chamber. The partition wall thus defining the hydraulic pump accommodation chamber and the power transmission mechanism accommodation chamber can effectively prevent any foreign matters such as iron powder generated in the power transmission mechanism 240 from intruding into the hydraulic pump accommodation chamber, and hence damaging piston units 212 a, 212 b, cylinder blocks 213 a, 213 b, and/or other parts. In addition to this foreign matters prevention measure, the first and second pump shafts 211 a and 211 b, which extend through the partition wall 222, may have circumferential peripheries with seal rings thereon to more securely prevent the intrusion of the foreign matters.

[0205] Portions of the housing 220, through which the respective shafts 211 a, 215 a and 215 b extend, are sealed by any suitable sealing means in a liquid tight manner, thereby allowing the housing 220 to serve as the hydraulic fluid tank 285.

[0206] The first sidewall 222 serving as the partition wall preferably forms a hydraulic fluid communication hole 222 a for communication between the hydraulic pump accommodation chamber and the power transmission mechanism accommodation chamber with a filter 222 b provided in the hole for preventing the intrusion of the foreign matters into the hydraulic pump accommodation chamber. The thus formed hydraulic fluid communication hole 222 a can omit the necessity of separately feeding the lubricant to the power transmission mechanism 240, with the result that the power transmission mechanism 240 can be lubricated with the hydraulic fluid stored within the housing. This permits low manufacturing cost and ease of maintenance.

[0207] In this embodiment, the first and second angularly adjustable swash plates 214 a and 214 b are of a cradle type, as illustrated in FIG. 17. Therefore, when the partition wall 222 forms, on its side facing the hydraulic pumps 210 a, 210 b, spherical concave surfaces 222 c respectively adapted to spherical convex surfaces 216 formed in the rear sides of the swash plates 214 a and 214 b, which rear sides being opposite to the surfaces facing the piston units 212 a and 212 b, the spherical concave surfaces 222 c can slidingly guide the spherical convex surfaces 216 of the swash plates 214 a and 214 b. The swash plates thus can securely rest on the spherical concave surfaces 222 c. Although FIG. 17 illustrates only the portion of the partition wall 222 corresponding to the first angularly adjustable swash plate 214 a, it is a matter of course that the portion of the partition wall 222 corresponding to the second angularly adjustable swash plate 214 b forms the spherical concave surface 222 c.

[0208] In this embodiment, the first sidewall 222 of the first housing 221 serves as the partition wall. Alternatively, a partitioning means may take various forms, as long as it can produce the same effect as described above. For example, a separately prepared partition wall may be mounted in a housing having a simple cylindrical box shape (see FIG. 14).

[0209] Now, the description will be made for the center section 230. As illustrated in FIG. 18, the center section 230 forms a first pair of hydraulic passages 231 a for the first hydraulic pump communicating with the first piston unit. The first pair of hydraulic passages 231 a respectively have first ends opening to the outside of the center section 230 to form a first pair of inlet/outlet ports 232 a serving as connection ports for connection with the first pair of hydraulic lines 284 a extending between the first hydraulic motor and the center section 230 (see FIG. 15).

[0210] Similarly, the center section 230 forms a second pair of hydraulic passages 231 b for the second hydraulic pump communicating with the second piston unit. The second pair of hydraulic passages 231 b respectively have first ends forming a second pair of inlet/outlet ports 232 b serving as connection ports for connection with the second pair of hydraulic lines 284 b (see FIG. 15).

[0211] As described above, the common center section 230 thus forms all the first and second pairs of inlet/outlet ports 232 a and 232 b serving as the connection ports for connection with the first and second pairs of hydraulic lines 284 a and 284 b. Whereby, the piping work between the hydraulic pumps 210 a and 210 b, and the hydraulic motors 282 a and 282 b can be facilitated. The first and second pairs of inlet/outlet ports are more preferably formed in the same side of the center section 230, as illustrated in FIG. 18, thereby further facilitating the piping work.

[0212] The center section 230 also forms a common charging passage 233 for feeding a pressurized hydraulic fluid to the first pair of hydraulic lines 284 a and the second pair of hydraulic lines 284 b. The charging passage 233 has a first end opening to the outside of the center section 230 to form an inlet port for charging 234. In this embodiment, the first pump shaft 211 a, as illustrated in FIG. 16, has an extension extending further from the upper end thereof to be located above the center section 230, thereby supporting a charge pump 250 via the extension, and connecting an outlet port 251 of the charge pump 250 to the inlet port 234. The outlet port 251 of the charge pump also communicates with a pressure relief line 253 having a charge relief valve 252 therein. The charge relief valve 252 is designed to adjust the hydraulic pressure in the charging passage 233 (see FIG. 15). The pressure relief line 253 has a rear end communicating via a drain port 235 formed in the center section 230 with the housing 220 serving also as the hydraulic fluid tank 285. The reference codes 255 and 256 in FIGS. 16 and 17 respectively represent an inlet port of the charge pump, and an inlet port communicating with the inlet port of the charge pump and connected to the hydraulic fluid tank 285 through a suitable conduit.

[0213] On the other hand, the charging passage 233, as illustrated in FIG. 18, has a second end communicating with the first pair of hydraulic passages 231 a and the second pair of hydraulic passages 231 b via check valves 261 a, 261 b, 261 c and 261 d so as to allow the pressurized hydraulic fluid to be fed from the common charging passage 233 into a lower pressure line of the first pair of hydraulic lines 284 a and a lower pressure line of the second pairs of hydraulic lines 284 b, while preventing the pressurized hydraulic fluid from flowing in the reverse direction.

[0214] Bypass lines 262 a and 262 b having throttle valves are formed between at least one of the first pair of hydraulic passages 231 a and the charging passage 233, and between at least one of the second pair of hydraulic passages 231 b and the charging passage 233 (see FIGS. 15 and 18).

[0215] The bypass lines 262 a and 262 b are designed to assure the neutralization of the hydraulic pumps 210 a and 210 b. Specifically, even if the swash plates 214 a and 214 b of the hydraulic pumps 210 a and 210 b tilt from the neutral positions by a small angle, there occurs the pressure difference between the first pair of hydraulic lines 284 a, and/or between the second pair of hydraulic lines 284 b. This pressure difference causes the rotation of the hydraulic motors 282 a and 282 b. That is, even a slight amount of the displacement between the actual neutral positions and the predetermined design positions of the swash plates 214 a and 214 b due to assembling errors or the like causes an unintentional rotation of the hydraulic motors 282 a and 282 b. On the contrary, the bypass lines 262 a and 262 b, as described above, allow the pressurized hydraulic fluid to leak therethrough from the first pair of hydraulic lines 284 a and the second pair of hydraulic lines 284 b. Thus, the pressure difference between the pair of first hydraulic lines 284 a andlor between the second pair of hydraulic lines 284 b can effectively be limited, thereby effectively avoiding the unintentional rotation of the hydraulic motors 282 a and 282 b, even for the swash plates 214 a and 214 b having the actual neutral position displaced from the design neutral position due to the assembling errors or the like.

[0216] In view of transmission efficiency between the hydraulic pumps 210 a, 210 b and the hydraulic motors 282 a, 282 b, the leakage of the pressurized hydraulic fluid from the first and second pairs of hydraulic lines 284 a, 284 b through the bypass lines 262 a, 262 b is not preferable. Therefore, the bypass lines 262 a, 262 b are preferably provided in portions from the charging passage 233 to one of the first pair of hydraulic passages 231 a, and to one of the second pair of hydraulic passages 231 b.

[0217] The check valves 261 a, 261 b, 261 c and 261 d are more preferably provided with release means 262 to forcibly bring the first pair of hydraulic passages 231 a into communication with one another, and the second pair of hydraulic passages 231 b into communication with one another, if an emergency arises, as illustrated in FIG. 18. The release means 262 are designed to easily move the vehicle, when the vehicle must forcibly be moved or the vehicle wheels must forcibly be rotated by man power or the like due to the disorder of the power source 280, the hydraulic pumps 210 a, 210 b or the like. Specifically, when the vehicle wheels connected to the hydraulic motors 282 a and 282 b are forcibly rotated with the first pair of hydraulic lines 284 a and/or the second pair of hydraulic lines 284 b lying in the closing state, there occurs the pressure difference between the first pair of hydraulic lines 284 a, and between the second pair of hydraulic lines 284 b. As a result, the vehicle is hardly moved, or the vehicle wheels are hardly rotated. On the contrary, the release means can easily achieve the communications between the first pair of hydraulic passages 231 a, and between the second pair of hydraulic passages 231 b by mechanically releasing all the check valves 261 a to 261 d. Whereby, the vehicle can easily be moved by man power or the like.

[0218] As illustrated in FIG. 18, all the release means 263 are preferably disposed in the same side of the center section 230, so that the link mechanism linking these release means 263 for operation of the same can have a simplified structure.

[0219] The pump unit of this embodiment includes the charge pump 250 to forcibly feed the pressurized hydraulic fluid into the inlet port for charging 234. As an alternative to the arrangement using the charge pump, the pump unit may have an arrangement where the inlet port 234 is connected to the hydraulic fluid tank, thereby allowing the hydraulic fluid to spontaneously flow into the inlet port 234 when the pressure in a lower pressure line of the first pair of hydraulic lines 284 a and/or the pressure in a lower pressure line of the second pair of hydraulic lines 284 b drops from a predetermined value.

[0220] Fourth Embodiment

[0221] Another embodiment of the pump unit according to the second aspect of the present invention will be hereinafter described with reference to FIGS. 20 to 23. In the following description, corresponding or identical parts to those of the third embodiment have been given the same reference characters or those with primes (′) to omit a detailed description thereof.

[0222]FIGS. 20 and 21 are respectively a longitudinal cross-sectional side view, and a longitudinal cross-sectional front view of the pump unit according to this embodiment. FIGS. 22 and 23 are respectively cross sections taken along lines XXII-XXII and XXIII-XXIII in FIG. 20.

[0223] As illustrated in FIGS. 20 and 21, the pump unit 200′ of this embodiment includes the first hydraulic pump 210 a′ and the second hydraulic pump 210 b′, both of which are disposed parallel to one another along the vehicle longitudinal direction, and the first and second hydraulic pumps 210 a′ and 210 b′ respectively having the angularly adjustable swash plates 214 a′ and 214 b′ of trunnion type.

[0224] As illustrated in FIGS. 21 and 23, the first control shaft 215 a and the second control shaft 215 b extend away from one another along the vehicle width direction, in the same manner as those of the aforementioned embodiments.

[0225] As illustrated in FIG. 22, both first and second pairs of inlet/outlet ports 232 a and 232 b are formed in the same side of the center section 230′. The pump unit of this embodiment is also arranged so that the pressurized hydraulic fluid can be fed into the first pair of hydraulic passages 231 a and the second pair of hydraulic passages 231 b via the inlet port for charging 234 and the charging passage 233 communicating with the port 234.

[0226] The pump unit 200′ having the first and second hydraulic pumps 210 a′ and 210 b′ arranged parallel to one another along the longitudinal direction has the first control shaft 215 a displaced from the second control shaft 215 b with respect to the vehicle longitudinal direction, as illustrated in FIG. 23. This displacement can be easily compensated by using arms or other suitable linking means.

[0227] The pump unit 200′ having the above arrangement also produces the same effects as those of the third embodiment.

[0228] Fifth Embodiment

[0229] One embodiment of the pump unit according to the third aspect of the present invention will be hereinafter described with reference to FIGS. 24 to 28. FIG. 24 is a hydraulic circuit diagram of the vehicle to which a pump unit 300 of this embodiment is applied. FIG. 25 is a longitudinal cross-sectional front view of the pump unit and its periphery. FIGS. 26 to 28 are respectively cross sections taken along lines XXVI-XXVI, XXVII-XXVII and XXVIII-XXVIII in FIG. 25.

[0230] As illustrated in FIGS. 24 to 26, the pump unit 300 is adapted to be used in a vehicle having right and left drive wheels 383 a and 383 b to which first and second hydraulic motors 382 a and 382 b are respectively connected, and includes a first hydraulic pump 310 a and a second hydraulic pump 310 b respectively connected to the first and second hydraulic motors 382 a and 382 b via a first pair of hydraulic lines 384 a and a second pair of hydraulic lines 384 b, and a common housing 320 for accommodating these hydraulic pumps 310 a and 310 b.

[0231] The connection form between the right and left drive wheels 383 a and 383 b, and the first and second hydraulic motors 382 a and 382 b meant in this embodiment includes the direct connection of the drive wheels respectively to those hydraulic motors, and also an operative connection of the drive wheels respectively to the hydraulic motors via a suitable power transmission mechanism. In FIG. 24, the reference codes 380, 381 and 385 respectively represent a power source, a cooling fan and a hydraulic fluid tank.

[0232] As illustrated in FIGS. 25, 26 and 28, the first hydraulic pump 310 a and the second hydraulic pump 310 b are axial piston pumps of a variable displacement type, and respectively include a first pump shaft 311 a and a second pump shaft 311 b that have vertical axes and are disposed parallel to one another in the vehicle width direction within the housing 320, a first piston unit 312 a and a second piston unit 312 b that are reciprocatingly movable according to the rotation of the pump shafts, a first cylinder block 313 a and a second cylinder block 313 b that reciprocably support the piston units, a first angularly adjustable swash plate 314 a and a second angularly adjustable swash plate 314 b that regulate the stroke length of the piston units by varying their tilting angles to vary the input/output flow rates of the piston units, and a first control shaft 315 a and a second control shaft 315 b that control the tilting angles of these swash plates.

[0233] The pump unit of this embodiment is of a vertical type with the first and second pump shafts 311 a and 311 b having the vertical axes. However, the second aspect of the present invention is not necessarily limited to this arrangement. It is a matter of course that the pump unit 300 can be of a horizontal type with the first and second pump shafts 311 a and 311 b having the horizontal axes.

[0234] As best illustrated in FIG. 25, the first and second angularly adjustable swash plates 314 a and 314 b of this embodiment are of a cradle type.

[0235] As illustrated in FIGS. 25 and 28, the first control shaft 315 a and the second control shaft 315 b extend away from one another in the vehicle width direction to respectively have oppositely positioned outer ends, and inner ends extending into the housing 320 to be respectively connected to arms 316 a and 316 b and hence the first and second swash plates 314 a and 314 b. The pump unit 300 with the thus arranged first and second control shafts 315 a and 315 b is advantageous when installed on the vehicle having push-pull control levers 198 a and 198 b as illustrated in FIG. 1, since the first and second control shafts 315 a and 315 b can have the rotating shaft centers disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the control levers, thereby achieving the simplification of a link mechanism between these control shafts and the control levers.

[0236] The first control shaft 315 a and the second control shaft 315 b are more preferably located at the same position with respect to the vehicle longitudinal direction, as illustrated in FIG. 25. The thus arranged first and second control shafts 315 a and 315 b can be aligned with the control levers in the vehicle width direction, thereby achieving a more simplified structure of the link mechanism.

[0237] The pump unit 300 further includes a common center section 330 that supports the first and second hydraulic pumps 310 a and 310 b, and a power transmission mechanism 340 that is accommodated within the housing 320 to operatively connect the first and second hydraulic pump shafts 311 a and 311 b together.

[0238] The pump unit 300 with the power transmission mechanism 340 permits the simultaneous rotation of both pump shafts 311 a and 311 b only by connecting the power source to either one of the first and second pump shafts 311 a and 311 b, or to the first pump shaft 311 a in this embodiment, thereby achieving the simplified structure for the power transmission from the power source to the pump unit 300. In this embodiment, the power transmission mechanism 340 is in the form of a gear transmission device that includes a first gear 340 a non-rotatably supported on the lower side of the first pump shaft 311 a, and a second gear 340 b non-rotatably supported on the lower side of the second pump shaft 311 b in meshed engagement with the first gear 340 a. Instead of the gear transmission device, any conventional power transmission mechanisms such as chain and belt may be used.

[0239] The housing 320, as illustrated in FIGS. 25 and 26, includes a first housing 321 for accommodating the first and second hydraulic pumps 310 a and 310 b, and a second housing 325 for accommodating the power transmission mechanism 340.

[0240] The first housing 321 has a box shape with a first side wall 322 disposed in the upper or lower side of the pump shafts 311 a and 311 b along the longitudinal direction thereof, or in this embodiment in the lower side of the pump shafts 311 a and 311 b, which will be hereinafter referred to simply as the lower side, and a peripheral wall 323 extending from a peripheral edge of the first sidewall 322 to the opposite side of the pump shafts 311 a and 311 b along the longitudinal direction thereof (i.e., the upper side of the pump shafts 311 a and 311 b in this embodiment, which will be referred to simply as the upper side). The first sidewall 322 forms bearing holes through which the first and second pump shafts 311 a and 311 b respectively extend. The upper side of the first housing 321 has an end surface forming an opening through which the first and second hydraulic pumps 310 a and 310 b can be placed into the first housing 321. The opening of the first housing 321 is sealed by the center section 330 in a liquid tight manner. That is, the center section 330 of this embodiment constitutes a part of the first housing 321. The first and second control shafts 315 a and 315 b extend away from one another in the vehicle width direction to respectively have outer ends protruding from the peripheral wall 323 of the first housing 321.

[0241] The second housing 325 is disposed in the lower side, and has a box shape with a lower sidewall 326 forming a bearing hole through which the lower end of the first pump shaft 311 a extends and a bearing portion for receiving the lower end of the second pump shaft 311 b, and a peripheral wall 327 extending upwardly from a peripheral edge of the lower sidewall 326. The upper side of the second housing 325 forms an opening through which the power transmission mechanism 340 can be placed into the second housing 325.

[0242] The second housing 325 is connected to the first housing 321 in such a manner as to have the opening sealed in a liquid tight manner by the first sidewall 322 of the first housing 321, and form an accommodation space of the power transmission mechanism 340 in cooperation with the first sidewall 322 of the first housing 321.

[0243] In the thus arranged housing 320, the first sidewall 322 of the first housing 321 serves as a partition wall dividing the accommodation space of the housing into a hydraulic pump accommodation chamber and a power transmission mechanism accommodation chamber. The partition wall thus defining the hydraulic pump accommodation chamber and the power transmission mechanism accommodation chamber can effectively prevent any foreign matters such as iron powder generated in the power transmission mechanism 340 from intruding into the hydraulic pump accommodation chamber, and hence damaging piston units 312 a, 312 b, cylinder blocks 313 a, 313 b, and/or other parts. In addition to this foreign matters prevention measure, the first and second pump shafts 311 a and 311 b, which extend through the partition wall 322, may have circumferential peripheries with seal rings thereon to more securely prevent the intrusion of the foreign matters.

[0244] Portions of the housing 320, through which the respective shafts 311 a, 315 a and 315 b extend, are sealed by any suitable sealing means in a liquid tight manner, thereby allowing the housing 320 to serve as the hydraulic fluid tank 385.

[0245] The first sidewall 322 serving as the partition wall preferably forms a hydraulic fluid communication hole 322 a for communication between the hydraulic pump accommodation chamber and the power transmission mechanism accommodation chamber with a filter 322 b provided in the hole for preventing the intrusion of the foreign matters into the hydraulic pump accommodation chamber. The thus formed hydraulic fluid communication hole 322 a can omit the necessity of separately feeding the lubricant to the power transmission mechanism 340, with the result that the power transmission mechanism 340 can be lubricated with the hydraulic fluid stored within the housing. This permits low manufacturing cost and ease of maintenance.

[0246] In this embodiment, the first and second angularly adjustable swash plates 314 a and 314 b are of a cradle type, as illustrated in FIG. 26. Therefore, when the partition wall 322 forms, on its side facing the hydraulic pumps 310 a, 310 b, spherical concave surfaces 322 c respectively adapted to spherical convex surfaces 316 formed in the rear sides of the swash plates 314 a and 314 b, which rear sides being opposite to the surfaces facing the piston units 312 a and 312 b, the spherical concave surfaces 322 c can slidingly guide the spherical convex surfaces 316 of the swash plates 314 a and 314 b. The swash plates thus can securely rest on the spherical concave surfaces 322 c. Although FIG. 26 illustrates only the portion of the partition wall 322 corresponding to the first angularly adjustable swash plate 314 a, it is a matter of course that the portion of the partition wall 322 corresponding to the second angularly adjustable swash plate 314 b forms the spherical concave surface 322 c.

[0247] In this embodiment, the first sidewall 322 of the first housing 321 serves as the partition wall. Alternatively, a partitioning means may take various forms, as long as it can produce the same effect. For example, a separately prepared partition wall may be mounted in a housing having a simple cylindrical box shape (see FIG. 14).

[0248] Now, the description will be made for the center section 330. As illustrated in FIG. 27, the center section 330 forms a first pair of hydraulic passages 331 a for the first hydraulic pump communicating with the first piston unit. The first pair of hydraulic passages 331 a respectively have first ends opening to the outside of the center section 330 to form a first pair of inlet/outlet ports 332 a serving as connection ports for connection with the first pair of hydraulic lines 384 a extending between the first hydraulic motor and the center section 330 (see FIG. 24).

[0249] Similarly, the center section 330 forms a second pair of hydraulic passages 331 b for the second hydraulic pump communicating with the second piston unit. The second pair of hydraulic passages 331 b respectively have first ends forming a second pair of inlet/outlet ports 332 b serving as connection ports for connection with the second pair of hydraulic lines 384 b (see FIG. 24).

[0250] As described above, the common center section 330 thus forms all the first and second pairs of inlet/outlet ports 332 a and 332 b serving as the connection ports for connection with the first and second pairs of hydraulic lines 384 a and 384 b. Whereby, the conduit work between the hydraulic pumps 310 a and 310 b, and the hydraulic motors 382 a and 382 b can be facilitated. The first and second pairs of inlet/outlet ports are more preferably formed in the same side of the center section 330, as illustrated in FIG. 27, thereby further facilitating the conduit work.

[0251] The center section 330 also forms a common charging passage 333 for feeding a pressurized hydraulic fluid to the first pair of hydraulic lines 384 a and the second pair of hydraulic lines 384 b. The charging passage 333 has a first end opening to the outside of the center section 330 to form an inlet port for charging 334. In this embodiment, the first pump shaft 311 a, as illustrated in FIG. 25, has an extension extending further from the upper end thereof to be located above the center section 330, thereby supporting a charge pump 350 via the extension, and connecting an outlet port 351 of the charge pump 350 to the inlet port 334. The outlet port 351 of the charge pump also communicates with a pressure relief line 353 having a charge relief valve 352 therein. The charge relief valve 352 is designed to adjust the hydraulic pressure in the charging passage 333 (see FIG. 24). The pressure relief line 353 has a rear end communicating via a drain port 335 formed in the center section 330 with the housing 320 serving also as the hydraulic fluid tank 385. The reference codes 355 and 356 in FIGS. 25 and 26 respectively represent an inlet port of the charge pump, and an inlet port communicating with the inlet port of the charge pump and connected to the hydraulic fluid tank 385 through a suitable conduit.

[0252] On the other hand, the charging passage 333, as illustrated in FIG. 27, has a second end communicating with the first pair of hydraulic passages 331 a and the second pair of hydraulic passages 331 b via check valves 361 a, 361 b, 361 c and 361 d so as to allow the pressurized hydraulic fluid to be fed from the common charging passage 333 into a lower pressure line of the first pair of hydraulic lines 384 a and a lower pressure line of the second pair of hydraulic lines 384 b, while preventing the pressurized hydraulic fluid from flowing in the reverse direction.

[0253] Bypass lines 362 a and 362 b having throttle valves are formed between at least one of the first pair of hydraulic passages 331 a and the charging passage 333, and between at least one of the second pair of hydraulic passages 331 b and the charging passage 333 (see FIGS. 24 and 27).

[0254] The bypass lines 362 a and 362 b are designed to assure the neutralization of the hydraulic pumps 310 a and 310 b. Specifically, even if the swash plates 314 a and 314 b of the hydraulic pumps 310 a and 310 b tilt from the neutral positions by a small angle, there occurs the pressure difference between the first pair of hydraulic lines 384 a, and/or between the second pair of hydraulic lines 384 b. This pressure difference causes the rotation of the hydraulic motors 383 a and 383 b. That is, even a slight amount of the displacement between the actual neutral positions and the predetermined design positions of the swash plates 314 a and 314 b due to assembling errors or the like causes an unintentional rotation of the hydraulic motors 383 a and 383 b. On the contrary, the bypass lines 362 a and 362 b, as described above, allow the pressurized hydraulic fluid to leak therethrough from the first pair of hydraulic lines 384 a and the second pair of hydraulic lines 384 b. Thus, the pressure difference between the pair of first hydraulic lines 384 a and/or between the second pair of hydraulic lines 384 b can effectively be limited, thereby effectively avoiding the unintentional rotation of the hydraulic motors 382 a and 382 b, even for the swash plates 314 a and 314 b having the actual neutral position displaced from the design neutral position due to the assembling errors or the like.

[0255] In view of transmission efficiency between the hydraulic pumps 310 a, 310 b and the hydraulic motors 382 a, 382 b, the leakage of the pressurized hydraulic fluid from the first and second pairs of hydraulic lines 384 a, 384 b through the bypass lines 362 a, 362 b is not preferable. Therefore, the bypass lines 362 a, 362 b are preferably provided in portions from the charging passage 333 to one of the first pair of hydraulic passages 331 a, and to one of the second pair of hydraulic passages 331 b.

[0256] The check valves 361 a, 361 b, 361 c and 361 d are more preferably provided with release means 362 to forcibly bring the first pair of hydraulic passages 331 into communication with one another, and the second pair of hydraulic passages 331 b into communication with one another, if an emergency arises, as illustrated in FIG. 27. The release means 362 are designed to easily move the vehicle, when the vehicle must forcibly be moved or the vehicle wheels must forcibly be rotated by man power or the like due to the disorder of the power source 380, the hydraulic pumps 310 a, 310 b or the like. Specifically, when the vehicle wheels connected to the hydraulic motors 382 a and 382 b are forcibly rotated with the first pair of hydraulic lines 384 a and/or the second pair of hydraulic lines 384 b lying in the closing state, there occurs the pressure difference between the first pair of hydraulic lines 331 a, and between the second pair of hydraulic lines 331 b. As a result, the vehicle is hardly moved, or the vehicle wheels are hardly rotated. On the contrary, the release means can easily achieve the communications between the first pair of hydraulic lines 384 a, and between the second pair of hydraulic lines 384 b by mechanically releasing all the check valves 361 a to 361 d. Whereby, the vehicle can easily be moved by man power or the like.

[0257] As illustrated in FIG. 27, all the release means 363 are preferably disposed in the same side of the center section 330, so that the link mechanism for linking these release means 363 can have a simplified structure.

[0258] The pump unit of this embodiment includes the charge pump 350 to forcibly feed the pressurized hydraulic fluid into the inlet port for charging 334. As an alternative to the arrangement using the charge pump, the pump unit may have an arrangement where the inlet port 334 is connected to the hydraulic fluid tank, thereby allowing the hydraulic fluid to spontaneously flow into the inlet port 334 when the pressure in a lower pressure line of the first pair of hydraulic lines 384 a and/or the pressure in a lower pressure line of the second pair of hydraulic lines 384 b drops from a predetermined value.

[0259] Sixth Embodiment

[0260] Another embodiment of the pump unit according to the third aspect of the present invention will be hereinafter described with reference to FIGS. 29 to 32. In the following description, corresponding or identical parts to those of the fifth embodiment have been given the same reference characters or those with primes (′) to omit a detailed description thereof.

[0261]FIGS. 29 and 30 are respectively a longitudinal cross-sectional side view, and a longitudinal cross-sectional front view of the pump unit according to this embodiment. FIGS. 31 and 32 are respectively cross sections taken along lines XXXI-XXXI, and XXXII-XXXII in FIG. 29.

[0262] As illustrated in FIGS. 29 and 30, the pump unit 300′ of this embodiment includes the first hydraulic pump 310 a′ and the second hydraulic pump 310 b′, both of which are disposed parallel to one another along the vehicle longitudinal direction, and the first and second hydraulic pumps 310 a′ and 310 b′ respectively having the angularly adjustable swash plates 314 a′ and 314 b′ of trunnion type.

[0263] As illustrated in FIGS. 30 and 32, the first control shaft 315 a and the second control shaft 315 b extend away from one another along the vehicle width direction, in the same manner as those of the aforementioned embodiments As illustrated in FIG. 31, both first and second pairs of inlet/outlet ports 332 a and 332 b are formed in the same side of the center section 330′. The pump unit of this embodiment is also arranged so that the pressurized hydraulic fluid can be fed into the first pair of hydraulic passages 331 a and the second pair of hydraulic passages 331 b via the inlet port for charging 334 and the charging passage 333 communicating with the port 334.

[0264] The pump unit 300′ having the first and second hydraulic pumps 310 a′ and 310 b′ arranged parallel to one another along the longitudinal direction has the first control shaft 315 a displaced from the second control shaft 315 b with respect to the vehicle longitudinal direction, as illustrated in FIG. 32. This displacement can be easily compensated by using arms or other suitable linking means.

[0265] The pump unit 300′ having the above arrangement also produces the same effects as those of the fifth embodiment.

[0266] Seventh Embodiment

[0267] One embodiment of the pump unit according to the fourth aspect of the present invention will be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 33 is a hydraulic circuit diagram of the vehicle to which a pump unit 400 of this embodiment is applied. FIG. 34 is a longitudinal cross-sectional side view of the pump unit and its periphery. FIGS. 35 and 36 are respectively cross sections taken along lines XXXV-XXXV, and XXXVI-XXXVI.

[0268] As illustrated in FIGS. 33 to 35, the pump unit 400 is adapted to be used in a vehicle having right and left drive wheels 483 a and 483 b to which first and second hydraulic motors 482 a and 482 b are respectively connected, and includes a first hydraulic pump 410 a and a second hydraulic pump 410 b respectively connected to the first and second hydraulic motors 482 a and 482 b via a first pair of hydraulic lines 484 a and a second pair of hydraulic lines 484 b, and a common housing 420 for accommodating these hydraulic pumps 410 a and 410 b.

[0269] The connection form between the right and left drive wheels 483 a and 483 b, and the first and second hydraulic motors 482 a and 482 b meant in this embodiment includes the direct connection of the drive wheels respectively to those hydraulic motors, and also an operative connection of the drive wheels respectively to the hydraulic motors via a suitable power transmission mechanism. In FIG. 33, the reference codes 480, 481 and 486 respectively represent a power source, a cooling fan and a filter.

[0270] As illustrated in FIGS. 34 to 36, the first hydraulic pump 410 a and the second hydraulic pump 410 b are axial piston pumps of a variable displacement type, and respectively include a first pump shaft 411 a and a second pump shaft 411 b that have vertical axes and are disposed parallel to one another in the vehicle width direction within the housing 420, a first piston unit 412 a and a second piston unit 412 b that are reciprocatingly movable according to the rotation of the pump shafts, a first cylinder block 413 a and a second cylinder block 413 b that reciprocably support the piston units, a first angularly adjustable swash plate 414 a and a second angularly adjustable swash plate 414 b that regulate the stroke length of the piston units by varying their tilting angles to vary the input/output flow rates of the piston units, and a first control shaft 415 a and a second control shaft 415 b that control the tilting angles of these swash plates.

[0271] The pump unit of this embodiment is of a vertical type with the first and second pump shafts 411 a and 411 b having the vertical axes. However, the second aspect of the present invention is not necessarily limited to this arrangement. It is a matter of course that the pump unit 400 can be of a horizontal type with the first and second pump shafts 411 a and 411 b having the horizontal axes.

[0272] As best illustrated in FIG. 34, the first and second angularly adjustable swash plates 414 a and 414 b of this embodiment are of a cradle type.

[0273] As illustrated in FIGS. 35 and 36, the first control shaft 415 a and the second control shaft 415 b extend away from one another in the vehicle width direction to respectively have oppositely positioned outer ends, and inner ends extending into the housing 420 to be respectively connected to arms 416 a and 416 b and hence the first and second swash plates 414 a and 414 b. The pump unit 400 with the thus arranged first and second control shafts 415 a and 415 b is advantageous when installed on the vehicle having push-pull control levers 198 a and 198 b as illustrated in FIG. 1, since the first and second control shafts 415 a and 415 b can have the rotating shaft centers disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the control levers, thereby achieving the simplification of a link mechanism between these control shafts and the control levers.

[0274] The first control shaft 415 a and the second control shaft 415 b are more preferably located at substantially the same position with respect to the vehicle longitudinal direction, as illustrated in FIG. 34. The thus arranged first and second control shafts 415 a and 415 b can be aligned with the control levers in the vehicle width direction, thereby achieving a more simplified structure of the link mechanism.

[0275] The pump unit 400 further includes a common center section 430 that supports the first and second hydraulic pumps 410 a and 410 b, and a power transmission mechanism 440 that is accommodated within the housing 420 to operatively connect the first and second hydraulic pump shafts 411 a and 411 b together.

[0276] The pump unit 400 with the power transmission mechanism 440 permits the simultaneous rotation of both pump shafts 411 a and 411 b only by connecting the power source to either one of the first and second pump shafts 411 a and 411 b, or to the first pump shaft 411 a in this embodiment, thereby achieving the simplified structure for the power transmission from the power source to the pump unit 400. In this embodiment, the power transmission mechanism 440 is in the form of a gear transmission device that includes a first gear 440 a non-rotatably supported on the lower side of the first pump shaft 411 a, and a second gear 440 b non-rotatably supported on the lower side of the second pump shaft 411 b in meshed engagement with the first gear 440 a. Instead of the gear transmission device, any conventional power transmission mechanisms such as chain and belt may be used.

[0277] The housing 420, as illustrated in FIGS. 34 and 35, includes a first housing 421 for accommodating the first and second hydraulic pumps 410 a and 410 b, and a second housing 422 for accommodating the power transmission mechanism 440.

[0278] The first housing 421 has a box shape with a first sidewall 421 a disposed in the upper or lower side of the pump shafts 411 a and 411 b along the longitudinal direction thereof, or in this embodiment in the lower side of the pump shafts 411 a and 411 b, which will be hereinafter referred to simply as the lower side, and a peripheral wall 421 b extending from a peripheral edge of the first sidewall 421 a to the opposite side of the pump shafts 411 a and 411 b along the longitudinal direction thereof (i.e., the upper side of the pump shafts 411 a and 411 b in this embodiment, which will be referred to simply as the upper side). The first sidewall 421 a forms bearing holes through which the first and second pump shafts 411 a and 411 b respectively extend. The upper side of the first housing 421 has an end surface forming an opening through which the first and second hydraulic pumps 410 a and 410 b can be placed into the first housing 421. The opening of the first housing 421 is sealed by the center section 430 in a liquid tight manner. That is, the center section 430 of this embodiment constitutes a part of the first housing 421. The first and second control shafts 415 a and 415 b extend away from one another in the vehicle width direction to respectively have outer ends protruding from the peripheral wall 421 b of the first housing 421.

[0279] The second housing 422 is disposed in the lower side, and has a box shape with a lower sidewall 422 a forming a bearing hole through which the lower end of the first pump shaft 411 a extends and a bearing portion for receiving the lower end of the second pump shaft 411 b, and a peripheral wall 422 b extending upwardly from a peripheral edge of the lower sidewall 422 a. The upper side of the second housing 422 forms an opening through which the power transmission mechanism 440 can be placed into the second housing 422.

[0280] The second housing 422 is connected to the first housing 421 in such a manner as to have the opening sealed in a liquid tight manner by the first sidewall 421 a of the first housing 421, and form an accommodation space of the power transmission mechanism 440 in cooperation with the first sidewall 421 a of the first housing 421.

[0281] In the thus arranged housing 420, the first sidewall 421 a of the first housing 421 serves as a partition wall dividing the accommodation space of the housing into a hydraulic pump accommodation chamber and a power transmission mechanism accommodation chamber. The partition wall thus defining the hydraulic pump accommodation chamber and the power transmission mechanism accommodation chamber can effectively prevent any foreign matters such as iron powder generated in the power transmission mechanism 440 from intruding into the hydraulic pump accommodation chamber, and hence damaging piston units 412 a, 412 b, cylinder blocks 413 a, 413 b, and/or other parts. In addition to this foreign matters prevention measure, the first and second pump shafts 411 a and 411 b, which extend through the partition wall 421 a, may have circumferential peripheries with seal rings thereon to more securely prevent the intrusion of the foreign matters.

[0282] Portions of the housing 420, through which the respective shafts 411 a, 415 a and 415 b extend, are sealed by any suitable sealing means in a liquid tight manner, thereby allowing the housing 420 to serve as the hydraulic fluid tank.

[0283] The first sidewall 421 a serving as the partition wall preferably forms a hydraulic fluid communication hole 423 a for communication between the hydraulic pump accommodation chamber and the power transmission mechanism accommodation chamber with a filter 423 b provided in the hole for preventing the intrusion of the foreign matters into the hydraulic pump accommodation chamber. The thus formed hydraulic fluid communication hole 423 a can omit the necessity of separately feeding the lubricant to the power transmission mechanism 440, with the result that the power transmission mechanism 440 can be lubricated with the hydraulic fluid stored within the housing. This permits low manufacturing cost and ease of maintenance.

[0284] In this embodiment, the first and second angularly adjustable swash plates 414 a and 414 b are of a cradle type, as illustrated in FIG. 34. Therefore, when the partition wall 421 a forms, on its side facing the hydraulic pumps 410 a, 410 b, spherical concave surfaces 424 respectively adapted to spherical convex surfaces 419 formed in the rear sides of the swash plates 414 a and 414 b, which rear sides being opposite to the surfaces facing the piston units 412 a and 412 b, the spherical concave surfaces 424 can slidingly guide the spherical convex surfaces 419 of the swash plates 414 a and 414 b. The swash plates thus can securely rest on the spherical concave surfaces 424. Although FIG. 34 illustrates only the portion of the partition wall 421 a corresponding to the first angularly adjustable swash plate 414 a, it is a matter of course that the portion of the partition wall 421 a corresponding to the second angularly adjustable swash plate 414 b forms the spherical concave surface 424.

[0285] In this embodiment, the first sidewall 421 a of the first housing 421 serves as the partition wall. Alternatively, a partitioning means may take various forms, as long as it can produce the same effect as described above. For example, a separately prepared partition wall may be mounted in a housing having a simple cylindrical box shape (see FIG. 14).

[0286] Now, the description will be made for the center section 430. FIG. 37 is an enlarged view of a portion XXXVII in FIG. 34. FIGS. 38 and 39 are respectively cross sections taken along lines XXXVIII-XXXVIII, and XXXIX-XXXIX in FIG. 37. FIG. 40 is a cross section taken along lines XXXX-XXXX in FIG. 39.

[0287] As best illustrated in FIG. 39, the center section 430 forms a first pair of hydraulic passages 431 a respectively having first ends communicating with the first piston unit and second ends opening to the outside of the center section 430 to form a first pair of inlet/outlet ports 432 a serving as connection ports for connection with the first pair of hydraulic lines 484 a (see FIG. 33).

[0288] The center section 430 also forms a second pair of hydraulic passages 431 b having first ends communicating with the second piston unit and second ends opening to the outside of the center section 430 to form a second pair of inlet/outlet ports 432 b serving as connection ports for connection with the second pair of hydraulic lines 484 b (see FIG. 33).

[0289] As described above, the common center section 430 thus forms all the first and second pairs of inlet/outlet ports 432 a and 432 b serving as the connection ports for connection with the first and second pairs of hydraulic lines 484 a and 484 b. Whereby, the piping work between the hydraulic pumps 410 a and 410 b, and the hydraulic motors 482 a and 482 b can be facilitated. The first and second pairs of inlet/outlet ports 432 a and 432 b are more preferably formed in the same side of the center section 430, as illustrated in FIGS. 39 and 40, thereby further facilitating the piping work.

[0290] The center section 430, as illustrated in FIGS. 37 to 40, also forms a common charging passage 433 having a first end opening to the outside of the center section 430 to form an inlet port for charging 434 serving as an inlet for the hydraulic fluid to be replenished, and a second end communicating with the first pair of hydraulic passages 431 a and the second pair of hydraulic passages 431 b via check valves 461 a, 461 b, 461 c and 461 d.

[0291] In this embodiment, the first pump shaft 411 a, as best illustrated in FIGS. 34 and 37, has an extension extending upwards from the upper end thereof to be located above the center section 430, thereby supporting a charge pump 450 via the extension. The charge pump 450 has an upper surface with a cartridge filter 486 detachably mounted thereto, through which the pressurized hydraulic fluid is fed from an outlet port 451 of the charge pump 450 to the inlet port for charging 434.

[0292] The cartridge filter 486 can be provided at the suction side of the charge pump 450.

[0293] The charging passage 433 is connected via a relief valve 452 to a pressure relief line 453 communicating with the housing. The relief valve 452 regulates the hydraulic pressure of the charging passage 433 (see FIGS. 33 and 40).

[0294] In this embodiment, the pressure relief line 453 is formed in a charge pump casing 459 mounted on the upper surface of the center section 430 to be communicated with the first housing 421 via a drain port 435 formed in the center section 430. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this arrangement. That is, the pressure relief line 453 can be formed in the center section 430.

[0295] Reference codes 455, and 456 in FIGS. 34, 35 and 38 respectively represent an inlet port of the charge pump, and an inlet port communicating with the inlet port 455 of the charge pump.

[0296] As described above, the charging passage 433 has the second end communicating with the first pair of hydraulic passages 431 a and the second pair of hydraulic passages 431 b via the check valves 461 a, 461 b, 461 c and 461 d so as to allow the pressurized hydraulic fluid to be fed from the common charging passage 433 into a lower pressure line of the first pair of hydraulic lines 484 a and a lower pressure line of the second pairs of hydraulic lines 484 b, while preventing the pressurized hydraulic fluid from flowing in the reverse direction.

[0297] Further, bypass lines 462 a and 462 b having throttle valves are formed between at least one of the first pair of hydraulic passages 431 a and the charging passage 433, and between at least one of the second pair of hydraulic passages 431 b and the charging passage 433 (see FIGS. 33 and 39).

[0298] The bypass lines 462 a and 462 b are designed to assure the neutralization of the hydraulic pumps 410 a and 410 b. Specifically, even if the swash plates 414 a and 414 b of the hydraulic pumps 410 a and 410 b tilt from the neutral positions by a small angle, there occurs the pressure difference between the first pair of hydraulic lines 484 a, and/or between the second pair of hydraulic lines 484 b. This pressure difference causes the rotation of the hydraulic motors 482 a and 482 b. That is, even a slight amount of the displacement between the actual neutral positions and the predetermined design positions of the swash plates 414 a and 414 b due to assembling errors or the like causes an unintentional rotation of the hydraulic motors 482 a and 482 b. On the contrary, the bypass lines 462 a and 462 b, as described above, allow the pressurized hydraulic fluid to leak therethrough from the first pair of hydraulic lines 484 a and the second pair of hydraulic lines 484 b. Thus, the pressure difference between the pair of first hydraulic lines 484 a and/or between the second pair of hydraulic lines 484 b can effectively be limited, thereby effectively avoiding the unintentional rotation of the hydraulic motors 482 a and 482 b, even for the swash plates 414 a and 414 b having the actual neutral position displaced from the design neutral position due to the assembling errors or the like.

[0299] In view of transmission efficiency between the hydraulic pumps 410 a, 410 b and the hydraulic motors 482 a, 482 b, the leakage of the pressurized hydraulic fluid from the first and second pairs of hydraulic lines 484 a, 484 b through the bypass lines 462 a, 462 b is not preferable. Therefore, the bypass lines 462 a, 462 b are preferably provided in portions from the charging passage 433 to one of the first pair of hydraulic passages 431 a, and to one of the second pair of hydraulic passages 431 b.

[0300] The check valves 461 a, 461 b, 461 c and 461 d are more preferably provided with release means 462 to forcibly bring the first pair of hydraulic passages 431 a into communication with one another, and the second pair of hydraulic passages 431 b into communication with one another, if an emergency arises, as illustrated in FIG. 36. The release means 462 are designed to easily move the vehicle, when the vehicle must forcibly be moved or the vehicle wheels must forcibly be rotated by man power or the like due to the disorder of the power source 480, the hydraulic pumps 410 a, 410 b or the like. Specifically, when the vehicle wheels connected to the hydraulic motors 482 a and 482 b are forcibly rotated with the first pair of hydraulic lines 484 a and/or the second pair of hydraulic lines 484 b lying in the closing state, there occurs the pressure difference between the first pair of hydraulic lines 484 a, and between the second pair of hydraulic lines 484 b. As a result, the vehicle is hardly moved, or the vehicle wheels are hardly rotated. On the contrary, the release means can easily achieve the communications between the first pair of hydraulic passages 431 a, and between the second pair of hydraulic passages 431 b by mechanically releasing all the check valves 461 a to 461 d. Whereby, the vehicle can easily be moved by man power or the like.

[0301] As illustrated in FIG. 39, all the release means 463 are preferably disposed in the same side of the center section 430, so that the link mechanism linking these release means 463 for operation of the same can have a simplified structure.

[0302] As described above, the pump unit 400 of this embodiment includes the first and second hydraulic pumps 410 a and 410 b, the center section 430 and the housing 420, all of which are integrally connected together to constitute a single unit 400 a. Accordingly, both first and second hydraulic pumps 410 a and 410 b can be installed on the vehicle only by mounting the single unit 400 a on the vehicle, thereby achieving an improved efficiency in assembling the vehicle.

[0303] The pump unit 400 of this embodiment also includes a reservoir tank 485 supportingly connected to the single unit 400 a, as illustrated in FIGS. 34 to 36. The reservoir tank 485 is designed to reserve the hydraulic fluid to be replenished to the first pair of hydraulic passages 431 a and the second pair of hydraulic passages 431 b. In this embodiment, the reservoir tank 485 has right and left sides respectively forming mounting ribs 485 a, through which the reservoir tank 485 is connected to the single unit 400 a.

[0304] The above arrangement where the reservoir tank 485 is supportingly connected to the single unit 400 a can omit external conduits for feeding the hydraulic fluid from the reservoir tank 485 to the charge pump 450, and external conduits for returning the hydraulic fluid from the single unit 400 a to the reservoir tank 485, thereby achieving ease of assembly, lower manufacturing cost, improved efficiency in replenishing the hydraulic fluid through the decrease of the resistance force between the hydraulic fluid and the conduit wall, and producing other desirable effects.

[0305] The reservoir tank 485 preferably communicates with the housing 420 via a hydraulic fluid communication passage 487 such as a pipe, as illustrated in FIGS. 34 and 35. This hydraulic communication allows both reservoir tank 485 and housing 420 to be used as a hydraulic fluid tank, and hence the reservoir tank itself to have a reduced size. In this arrangement, the reservoir tank is preferably located so that the upper level of the hydraulic fluid within the reservoir tank can be higher than the upper end of the housing. This arrangement produces an additional desirable effect, and more specifically allows the complete filling of the hydraulic fluid within the housing 420, thereby effectively avoiding the air entrained in the hydraulic fluid. In addition, variation in volume of the hydraulic fluid within the housing 420 due to variation in temperature of this hydraulic fluid can be properly compensated by the reservoir tank 485 communicating with the housing.

[0306] The reservoir tank 485 can be connected to the inlet port for charging 434 via a hydraulic fluid replenishing passage 488 such as a pipe. According to the pump unit of this embodiment, which includes the charge pump 450 serving as the hydraulic fluid feeding means, as described above, the reservoir tank 485 communicates, via the hydraulic fluid replenishing passage 488, with the inlet port 456 communicating with the inlet port 455 of the charge pump 450, and the outlet port 451 of the charge pump 450 communicates with the inlet port for charging 434 via the cartridge filter 486 (see FIGS. 34 and 37).

[0307] The communications between the reservoir tank 485 and the inlet port 434 via the hydraulic fluid replenishing passage 488, and between the reservoir tank 485 and the housing 420 via the hydraulic fluid communication passage 487 can reduce the number of the conduits required respectively between the first and second hydraulic pumps, and the first and second hydraulic motors to substantially four conduits only, specifically the first pair of hydraulic lines 484 a and the second pair of hydraulic lines 484 b. Thus, as compared with the conventional arrangements as disclosed in the above cited U.S. Pat. No. 4,920,733, the pump unit of this embodiment can achieve a lower manufacturing cost, an improved assembling efficiency and an excellent workability in maintenance.

[0308] The pump unit 400 more preferably includes a cooling fan 481 disposed near the single unit 400 a and the reservoir tank 485 and operatively driven by the power source 480. According to this arrangement with the cooling fan 481, the reservoir tank 485 is connected to the single unit 400 a in such a manner as to form between the reservoir tank 485 and the single unit 400 a a clearance 489 into which a cooling air stream is drawn from the cooling fan 481. The hydraulic fluid replenishing passage 488 and/or the hydraulic fluid communication passage 487 traverses the clearance 489. In this arrangement, the hydraulic fluid replenishing passage 488 and the hydraulic fluid communication passage 487 each may have the right and left sides surrounded by a cooling air duct or shroud to effectively guide the cooling air stream from the cooling fan to the clearance 489.

[0309] The thus arranged pump unit 400 can limit the increase in temperature of the hydraulic fluid stored in the reservoir tank 485 and the housing 420, and also effectively limit the increase in temperature of the hydraulic fluid flowing through the hydraulic fluid replenishing passage 488 and the hydraulic fluid communication passage 487. Thus, the transmission efficiency between the hydraulic pumps and the hydraulic motors can be improved.

[0310] The hydraulic fluid replenishing passage and the hydraulic fluid communication passage each more preferably has an outer circumference provided with fins (not shown) to obtain an enlarged heat radiating area, and hence an improved cooling efficiency. The fins can also be provided on the reservoir tank 485 itself.

[0311] Preferably, the reservoir tank 485 is made of a semitransparent resin material to afford a visual observation of the level of the hydraulic fluid from the outside of the tank. The reservoir tank 485 can also include a tank cap 485 b with an air release mechanism on the top of the tank.

[0312] In this embodiment, the charge pump 450 is provided to forcibly feed the pressurized hydraulic fluid to the inlet port for charging 434. Alternative to this arrangement with the charge pump 450, the inlet port for charging 434 may be directly connected to the reservoir tank 485 via the hydraulic fluid replenishing passage 488, thereby allowing the hydraulic fluid to spontaneously flow into the inlet port 434 when the pressure in a lower pressure line of the first pair of hydraulic lines 484 a and/or the pressure in a lower pressure line of the second pair of hydraulic lines 484 b drops from a predetermined value.

[0313] Eighth Embodiment

[0314] Another embodiment of the pump unit according to the fourth aspect of the present invention will be hereinafter described with reference to FIGS. 41 and 42. FIG. 41 is a longitudinal cross-sectional side view of the pump unit 400′, and FIG. 42 is a cross section taken along lines XXXXII-XXXXII in FIG. 41.

[0315] As illustrated in FIG. 41, the pump unit 400′ of this embodiment is a tandem pump unit with the first hydraulic pump 410 a connected in series with the second hydraulic pump 410 b. In the following description, corresponding or identical parts to those of the seventh embodiment have been given the same reference characters or those with primes (′) to omit a detailed description thereof.

[0316] As illustrated in FIG. 41, the pump unit 400′ includes the common housing 420′ for accommodating the first hydraulic pump 410 a and the second hydraulic pump 410 b, and the first center section 430 a and the second center section 430 b respectively supporting the first hydraulic pump 410 a and the second hydraulic pump 410 b.

[0317] The common housing 420′ has the first end (the lower end in this embodiment), and the second end (the upper end in this embodiment) along the axial direction thereof respectively defining the first opening 420 a′ for receiving the first hydraulic pump 410 a and the second opening 420 b′ for receiving the second hydraulic pump 410 b.

[0318] The common housing 420′ also forms the partition wall 420 c′ at substantially the center in the direction of the pump shaft to divide the common housing into the first pump accommodation chamber and the second pump accommodation chamber. The partition wall 420 c′ includes a bearing portion for supporting the connection portion between the first pump shaft 411 a and the second pump shaft 411 b. Specifically, the partition wall 420 c′ includes a connection member 416 non-rotatably fixed around the downstream end or the upper end of the first pump shaft 411 a and the upstream end or the lower end of the second pump shaft 411 b, and rotatably supported in the bearing hole 420 d′ formed in the partition wall. The partition wall 420 c′ may form a plurality of hydraulic fluid communication passages 420 e′ for communication between the first pump accommodation chamber and the second pump accommodation chamber. These communication passages enable the entire housing to be used as the hydraulic fluid tank.

[0319] The first center section 430 a supports on the upper surface thereof the first hydraulic pump 410 a, and is connected to the housing 420′ in such a manner as to seal the first opening 420 a′ of the housing. The first pump shaft 411 a of the first hydraulic pump 410 a has the upstream end or the lower end extending downwardly through the first center section 430 a to form a lower extension through which the power is inputted to drive the hydraulic pump units and the cooling fan 481.

[0320] On the other hand, the second center section 430 b supports on the lower surface thereof the second hydraulic pump 410 b, and is connected to the housing 420′ in such a manner as to seal the second opening 420 b′ of the housing 420′. The second pump shaft 411 b of the second hydraulic pump 410 b has the downstream end or the upper end extending upwardly through the second center section 430 b to form an upper extension through which the charge pump 450 is driven.

[0321] The first center section 430 a, as illustrated in FIGS. 33 and 41, forms a first pair of hydraulic passages 431 a for the first hydraulic pump, respectively having first ends opening to the outside of the first center section through the surface facing the first piston unit 412 a (the upper surface) to respectively communicate with the inlet/outlet ports of the first piston unit, and second ends opening to the outside of the first center section. The second ends of the first pair of hydraulic passages 431 a opening to the outside forms a first pair of inlet/outlet ports 432 a respectively serving as connection ports for connection with the first pair of hydraulic lines 484 a extending to the first hydraulic motor 482 a.

[0322] Similarly, the second center section 430 b, as illustrated in FIGS. 33, 41 and 41, forms a second pair of hydraulic passages 431 b for the second hydraulic pump, respectively having first ends opening to the outside of the second center section through the surface facing the second piston unit 412 b to respectively communicate with the inlet/outlet ports of the second piston unit, and second ends opening to the outside of the second center section. The second ends of the second pair of hydraulic passages 431 b opening to the outside forms a second pair of inlet/outlet ports 432 b respectively serving as connection ports for connection with the second pair of hydraulic lines 484 b extending to the second hydraulic motor 482 b.

[0323] Similarly to the seventh embodiment, the pump unit 400′ of this embodiment includes the common charging passage 433 disposed therein, having a first end opening to the outside of the pump unit to form the inlet port for charging 434, and the second end communicating with the first and second pairs of hydraulic passages.

[0324] The common charging passage 433, as illustrated in FIGS. 41 and 42, includes a first bore portion 433 a, a conduit portion 433 b and a second bore portion 433 c. The first bore portion 433 a is formed in the second center section 430 b to have a first end opening to the outside of the second center section through the upper surface thereof to form the inlet port for charging 434 and a second end communicating with the second pair of hydraulic passages 431 b via the check valves 461 c and 461 d and opening to the second pump accommodation chamber. The conduit portion 433 b is disposed to have a first end connected to the second end of the first bore portion 433 a and a second end extending through the second pump accommodation chamber, the partition wall 420 c and the first pump accommodation chamber to the first center section 430 a. The second bore portion 433 c is formed in the first center section 430 a to have a first end connected to the second end of the conduit portion 433 b and a second end communicating with the first pair of hydraulic passages 431 a via the check valves 461 a and 461 b. The conduit portion 433 b can be extended through the partition wall 420 c′ by disposing the conduit portion 433 b within one of the plurality of hydraulic fluid communication passages 420 e′.

[0325] Connected to the common charging passage 433 is a pressure relief line 453 communicating with the housing via a relief valve 452. The pressure relief line 453, similarly to the seventh embodiment, is formed in the charge pump casing 459 to communicate with the housing 420′ via the drain port 435 formed in the second center section 430 b.

[0326] The thus arranged pump unit 400′ of this embodiment also produces the same effects as those of the seventh embodiment.

[0327] Alternative to the conduit portion 433 b′, it is possible to form in the peripheral wall of the common housing 420 a communication hole having a first end connected to the second end of the first bore portion 433 a′ and a second end connected to the first end of the second bore portion 433 c′.

[0328] Ninth Embodiment

[0329] One embodiment of the pump unit according to the fifth aspect of the present invention will be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 43 is a hydraulic circuit diagram of the vehicle to which a pump unit 500 of this embodiment is applied. FIG. 44 is a longitudinal cross-sectional side view of the pump unit and its periphery. FIGS. 45 to 48 are respectively cross sections taken along lines XXXXV-XXXXV, XXXXVI-XXXXVI, XXXXVII-XXXXVII, and XXXXVIII-XXXXVIII.

[0330] As illustrated in FIGS. 43 to 45, the pump unit 500 is adapted to be used in a vehicle having right and left drive wheels 583 a and 583 b to which first and second hydraulic motors 582 a and 582 b are respectively connected, and includes a first hydraulic pump 510 a and a second hydraulic pump 510 b respectively connected to the first and second hydraulic motors 582 a and 582 b via a first pair of hydraulic lines 584 a and a second pair of hydraulic lines 584 b, and a common housing 520 for accommodating these hydraulic pumps 510 a and 510 b.

[0331] The connection form between the right and left drive wheels 583 a and 583 b, and the first and second hydraulic motors 582 a and 582 b meant in this embodiment includes the direct connection of the drive wheels respectively to those hydraulic motors, and also an operative connection of the drive wheels respectively to the hydraulic motors via a suitable power transmission mechanism. In FIG. 43, the reference codes 580, 581 and 586 respectively represent a power source, a cooling fan and a filter.

[0332] As illustrated in FIGS. 44 to 45, the first hydraulic pump 510 a and the second hydraulic pump 510 b are axial piston pumps of a variable displacement type, and respectively include a first pump shaft 511 a and a second pump shaft 511 b that have vertical axes and are disposed parallel to one another in the vehicle width direction within the housing 520, a first piston unit 512 a and a second piston unit 512 b that are reciprocatingly movable according to the rotation of the pump shafts, a first cylinder block 513 a and a second cylinder block 513 b that reciprocably support the piston units, a first angularly adjustable swash plate 514 a and a second angularly adjustable swash plate 514 b that regulate the stroke length of the piston units by varying their tilting angles to vary the input/output flow rates of the piston units, and a first control shaft 515 a and a second control shaft 515 b that control the tilting angles of these swash plates.

[0333] The pump unit of this embodiment is of a vertical type with the first and second pump shafts 511 a and 511 b having the vertical axes. However, the second aspect of the present invention is not necessarily limited to this arrangement. It is a matter of course that the pump unit 500 can be of a horizontal type with the first and second pump shafts 511 a and 511 b having the horizontal axes.

[0334] As best illustrated in FIG. 45, the first and second angularly adjustable swash plates 514 a and 514 b of this embodiment are of a cradle type.

[0335] As illustrated in FIGS. 44 and 48, the first control shaft 515 a and the second control shaft 515 b respectively have inner ends extending into the housing 520 to be respectively connected to arms 516 a and 516 b and hence the first and second swash plates 514 a and 514 b, and outer ends extending rearwards in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

[0336] Alternative to the above arrangement, the first and second control shafts 515 a and 515 b may extend away from one another in the vehicle width direction to respectively have oppositely positioned outer ends. This arrangement is advantageous when installed on the vehicle having push-pull control levers 198 a and 198 b as illustrated in FIG. 1, since the first and second control shafts 515 a and 515 b can have the rotating shaft centers disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the control levers, thereby achieving the simplification of a link mechanism between these control shafts and the control levers.

[0337] In the above arrangement, the first control shaft 515 a and the second control shaft 515 b are more preferably located at substantially the same position with respect to the vehicle longitudinal direction. The thus arranged first and second control shafts 515 a and 515 b can be aligned with the control levers in the vehicle width direction, thereby achieving a more simplified structure of the link mechanism.

[0338] The pump unit 500 further includes a common center section 530 that supports the first and second hydraulic pumps 510 a and 510 b, and a power transmission mechanism 540 that is accommodated within the housing 520 to operatively connect the first and second hydraulic pump shafts 511 a and 511 b together.

[0339] The pump unit 500 with the power transmission mechanism 540 permits the simultaneous rotation of both pump shafts 511 a and 511 b only by connecting the power source to either one of the first and second pump shafts 511 a and 511 b, or to the first pump shaft 511 a in this embodiment, thereby achieving the simplified structure for the power transmission from the power source to the pump unit 500. In this embodiment, the power transmission mechanism 540 is in the form of a gear transmission device that includes a first gear 540 a non-rotatably supported on the lower side of the first pump shaft 511 a, and a second gear 540 b non-rotatably supported on the lower side of the second pump shaft 511 b in meshed engagement with the first gear 540 a (see FIGS. 45 and 46). Instead of the gear transmission device, any conventional power transmission mechanisms such as chain and belt may be used.

[0340] The housing 520, as illustrated in FIGS. 44 and 45, includes a first housing 521 for accommodating the first and second hydraulic pumps 510 a and 510 b, and a second housing 522 for accommodating the power transmission mechanism 540.

[0341] The first housing 521 has a box shape with a first sidewall 521 a disposed in the upper or lower side of the pump shafts 511 a and 511 b along the longitudinal direction thereof, or in this embodiment in the lower side of the pump shafts 511 a and 511 b, which will be hereinafter referred to simply as the lower side, and a peripheral wall 521 b extending from a peripheral edge of the first sidewall 521 a to the opposite side of the pump shafts 511 a and 511 b along the longitudinal direction thereof (i.e., the upper side of the pump shafts 511 a and 511 b in this embodiment, which will be referred to simply as the upper side). The first sidewall 521 a forms bearing holes through which the first and second pump shafts 511 a and 511 b respectively extend. The upper side of the first housing 521 has an end surface forming an opening through which the first and second hydraulic pumps 510 a and 510 b can be placed into the first housing 521. The opening of the first housing 521 is sealed by the center section 530 in a liquid tight manner. That is, the center section 530 of this embodiment constitutes a part of the first housing 521.

[0342] The second housing 522 is disposed in the lower side, and has a box shape with a lower sidewall 522 a forming a bearing hole through which the lower end of the first pump shaft 511 a extends and a bearing portion for receiving the lower end of the second pump shaft 511 b, and a peripheral wall 522 b extending upwardly from a peripheral edge of the lower sidewall 522 a. The upper side of the second housing 522 forms an opening through which the power transmission mechanism 540 can be placed into the second housing 522.

[0343] The second housing 522 is connected to the first housing 521 in such a manner as to have the opening sealed in a liquid tight manner by the first sidewall 521 a of the first housing 521, and form an accommodation space of the power transmission mechanism 540 in cooperation with the first sidewall 521 a of the first housing 521.

[0344] In the thus arranged housing 520, the first sidewall 521 a of the first housing 521 serves as a partition wall dividing the accommodation space of the housing into a hydraulic pump accommodation chamber and a power transmission mechanism accommodation chamber. The partition wall thus defining the hydraulic pump accommodation chamber and the power transmission mechanism accommodation chamber can effectively prevent any foreign matters such as iron powder generated in the power transmission mechanism 540 from intruding into the hydraulic pump accommodation chamber, and hence damaging piston units 512 a, 512 b, cylinder blocks 513 a, 513 b, and/or other parts. In addition to this foreign matter prevention measure, the first and second pump shafts 511 a and 511 b, which extend through the partition wall 521 a, may have circumferential peripheries with seal rings thereon to more securely prevent the intrusion of the foreign matters.

[0345] Portions of the housing 520, through which the respective shafts 511 a, 515 a and 515 b extend, are sealed by any suitable sealing means in a liquid tight manner, thereby allowing the housing 520 to serve as the hydraulic fluid tank.

[0346] The first sidewall 521 a serving as the partition wall preferably forms a hydraulic fluid communication hole (not shown) for communication between the hydraulic pump accommodation chamber and the power transmission mechanism accommodation chamber, with a filter provided in the hole for preventing the intrusion of the foreign matters into the hydraulic pump accommodation chamber. The thus formed hydraulic fluid communication hole can omit the necessity of separately feeding the lubricant to the power transmission mechanism 540, with the result that the power transmission mechanism 540 can be lubricated with the hydraulic fluid stored within the housing. This permits low manufacturing cost and ease of maintenance.

[0347] In this embodiment, the first and second angularly adjustable swash plates 514 a and 514 b are of a cradle type, as illustrated in FIG. 45. Therefore, when the partition wall 521 a forms, on its side facing the hydraulic pumps 510 a, 510 b, spherical concave surfaces 524 respectively adapted to spherical convex surfaces 519 formed in the rear sides of the swash plates 514 a and 514 b, which rear sides being opposite to the surfaces facing the piston units 512 a and 512 b, the spherical concave surfaces 524 can slidingly guide the spherical convex surfaces 519 of the swash plates 514 a and 514 b. The swash plates thus can securely rest on the spherical concave surfaces 524.

[0348] In this embodiment, the first sidewall 521 a of the first housing 521 serves as the partition wall. Alternatively, a partitioning means may take various forms, as long as it can produce the same effect as described above. For example, a separately prepared partition wall may be mounted in a housing having a simple cylindrical box shape (see FIG. 14).

[0349] Now, the description will be made for the center section 530. FIG. 49 is a cross section taken along lines XXXXIX-XXXXIX in FIG. 47. As best illustrated in FIGS. 47 and 49, the center section 530 forms a first pair of hydraulic passages 531 a respectively having first ends communicating with the first piston unit and second ends opening to the outside of the center section 530 to form a first pair of inlet/outlet ports 532 a serving as connection ports for connection with the first pair of hydraulic lines 584 a (see FIG. 43).

[0350] The center section 530, as best illustrated in FIG. 47, also forms a second pair of hydraulic passages 531 b having first ends communicating with the second piston unit and second ends opening to the outside of the center section 530 to form a second pair of inlet/outlet ports 532 b serving as connection ports for connection with the second pair of hydraulic lines 584 b (see FIG. 43).

[0351] The common center section 530 thus forms all the first and second pairs of inlet/outlet ports 532 a and 532 b serving as the connection ports for connection with the first and second pairs of hydraulic lines 584 a and 584 b. Whereby, the piping work between the hydraulic pumps 510 a and 510 b, and the hydraulic motors 582 a and 582 b can be facilitated. In this embodiment, the common center section 530 has side surfaces facing one another that respectively form the first pair of inlet/outlet ports 532 a and the second pair of inlet/outlet ports 532 b. Alternatively, the first and second pairs of inlet/outlet ports 532 a and 532 b can be formed in the same side of the center section, thereby further facilitating the piping work.

[0352] The center section 530, as illustrated in FIGS. 44, 46 and 47, also forms a common charging passage 533 having a first end opening to the outside of the center section 530 to form an inlet port for charging 534 serving as an inlet for the hydraulic fluid to be replenished, and a second end communicating with the first pair of hydraulic passages 531 a and the second pair of hydraulic passages 531 b via check valves 561 a, 561 b, 561 c and 561 d.

[0353] In this embodiment, the first pump shaft 511 a, as best illustrated in FIGS. 44 and 45, has an extension extending upwards from the upper end thereof to be located above the center section 530, thereby supporting a charge pump 550 via the extension. The charge pump 550 has an upper surface with a cartridge filter 586 detachably mounted thereto, through which the hydraulic fluid is sucked into the inlet port 555 of the charge pump 550. The cartridge filter 586 can be provided at the discharge side of the charge pump 550.

[0354] The charging passage 533 is connected to a first end of a pressure relief line 553 with a relief valve 552 therein. The relief valve 552 regulates the hydraulic pressure of the charging passage 533 (see FIGS. 43 and 44).

[0355] The pressure relief line 533 has a second end opening to the outside to form a drain port 554 through which the hydraulic fluid from the relief valve is drained.

[0356] In this embodiment, the pressure relief line 553 is formed in a charge pump casing 559 mounted on the upper surface of the center section 530. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this arrangement. That is, the pressure relief line 553 can be formed in the center section 530.

[0357] Reference codes 551 and 556 in FIGS. 44 and 46 respectively represent an outlet port of the charge pump, and an inlet port communicating with the inlet port 555 of the charge pump 550 via the filter 586.

[0358] As described above, the charging passage 533 has the second end communicating with the first pair of hydraulic passages 531 a and the second pair of hydraulic passages 531 b via the check valves 561 a, 561 b, 561 c and 561 d so as to allow the pressurized hydraulic fluid to be fed from the common charging passage 533 into a lower pressure line of the first pair of hydraulic lines 584 a and a lower pressure line of the second pairs of hydraulic lines 584 b, while preventing the pressurized hydraulic fluid from flowing in the reverse direction.

[0359] Further, bypass lines 562 a and 562 b having throttle valves are formed between at least one of the first pair of hydraulic passages 531 a and the charging passage 533, and between at least one of the second pair of hydraulic passages 531 b and the charging passage 533 (see FIGS. 43 and 47).

[0360] The bypass lines 562 a and 562 b are designed to assure the neutralization of the hydraulic pumps 510 a and 510 b. Specifically, even if the swash plates 514 a and/or 514 b of the hydraulic pumps 510 a and 510 b tilts from the neutral positions by a small angle, there occurs the pressure difference between the first pair of hydraulic lines 484 a, and/or between the second pair of hydraulic lines 454 b. This pressure difference causes the rotation of the hydraulic motors 582 a and 582 b. That is, even a slight amount of the displacement between the actual neutral positions and the predetermined design positions of the swash plates 514 a and 514 b due to assembling errors or the like causes an unintentional rotation of the hydraulic motors 582 a and 582 b. On the contrary, the bypass lines 562 a and 562 b, as described above, allow the pressurized hydraulic fluid to leak therethrough from the first pair of hydraulic lines 584 a and the second pair of hydraulic lines 584 b. Thus, the pressure difference between the pair of first hydraulic lines 584 a and/or between the second pair of hydraulic lines 584 b can effectively be limited, thereby effectively avoiding the unintentional rotation of the hydraulic motors 582 a and 582 b, even for the swash plates 514 a and 514 b having the actual neutral position displaced from the design neutral position due to the assembling errors or the like.

[0361] In view of transmission efficiency between the hydraulic pumps 510 a, 510 b and the hydraulic motors 582 a, 582 b, the leakage of the pressurized hydraulic fluid from the first and second pairs of hydraulic lines 584 a, 584 b through the bypass lines 562 a, 562 b is not preferable. Therefore, the bypass lines 562 a, 562 b are preferably provided in portions from the charging passage 533 to one of the first pair of hydraulic passages 531 a, and to one of the second pair of hydraulic passages 531 b.

[0362] The check valves 561 a, 561 b, 561 c and 561 d are more preferably provided with release means 562 to forcibly bring the first pair of hydraulic passages 531 a into communication with one another, and the second pair of hydraulic passages 531 b into communication with one another, if an emergency arises, as illustrated in FIG. 47. The release means 562 are designed to easily move the vehicle, when the vehicle must forcibly be moved or the vehicle wheels must forcibly be rotated by man power or the like due to the disorder of the power source 580, the hydraulic pumps 510 a, 510 b or the like. Specifically, when the vehicle wheels connected to the hydraulic motors 582 a and 582 b are forcibly rotated with the first pair of hydraulic lines 584 a and/or the second pair of hydraulic lines 584 b lying in the closing state, there occurs the pressure difference between the first pair of hydraulic lines 584 a, and between the second pair of hydraulic lines 584 b. As a result, the vehicle is hardly moved, or the vehicle wheels are hardly rotated. On the contrary, the release means can easily achieve the communications between the first pair of hydraulic passages 531 a, and between the second pair of hydraulic passages 531 b by mechanically releasing all the check valves 561 a to 561 d. Whereby, the vehicle can easily be moved by man power or the like.

[0363] As illustrated in FIG. 47, all the release means 563 are preferably disposed in the same side of the center section 530, so that the link mechanism linking these release means 563 for operation of the same can have a simplified structure.

[0364] As described above, the pump unit 500 of this embodiment includes the first and second hydraulic pumps 510 a and 510 b, the center section 530 and the housing 520, all of which are integrally connected together to constitute a single unit 500 a. Accordingly, both first and second hydraulic pumps 510 a and 510 b can be installed on the vehicle only by mounting the single unit 500 a on the vehicle, thereby achieving an improved efficiency in assembling the vehicle.

[0365] The pump unit 500 of this embodiment also includes a reservoir tank 585 supportingly connected to the single unit 500 a, as illustrated in FIGS. 44 to 46. In this embodiment, the reservoir tank 585 has right and left sides respectively forming mounting ribs 585 a, so that the reservoir tank 585 is supportingly connected to the single unit 500 a via mounting members 590 fastened to the mounting ribs 585 a.

[0366] The reservoir tank 585 communicates with the housing 520 for a free fluid communication therebetween via a hydraulic fluid replenishing passage 587 or other suitable conduits means, as illustrated in FIGS. 44 and 48. This hydraulic communication allows the reservoir tank 585 to be used as a hydraulic fluid tank together with the housing 520.

[0367] Preferably, the reservoir tank 585 has the upper side positioned higher than the upper side of the housing 520, so that the housing can be completely filled with the hydraulic fluid, thereby effectively preventing the air from being entrained in the hydraulic fluid stored within the housing 520. Variation in volume of the hydraulic fluid within the housing 520 due to variation in temperature of this hydraulic fluid can be properly compensated by the reservoir tank 585 communicating with the housing.

[0368] The hydraulic fluid tank communicates with the inlet port for charging 534. According to this embodiment, the hydraulic fluid, which has been sucked via the hydraulic fluid replenishing passage 588 from the reservoir tank 585 constituting a part of the hydraulic tank, is fed into the inlet port for charging 534 via the pressure relief line 553 (see FIGS. 43 and 44).

[0369] On the other hand, the drain port adapted to drain the hydraulic fluid from the relief valve 552 installed within the pressure relief line 553 is connected to a cooling conduit 591 via a first end thereof. The cooling conduit 591 has a second end communicating with the reservoir tank 585 constituting a part of the hydraulic tank. The cooling conduit 591, as illustrated in FIG.44, has at least a portion extending through the outside air with a spacing from the single unit 500 a and the reservoir tank 585 to air-cool the hydraulic fluid flowing through the cooling conduit 591. The cooling conduit 591 preferably has an outer circumference provided with cooling fins to obtain an enlarged heat radiation area, and hence improved cooling efficiency.

[0370] The cooling conduit 591 may be connected to the reservoir tank 585 or the single unit 500 a by a suitable bridging means.

[0371] The pump unit is thus designed so that the hydraulic fluid, which has been sucked into the inlet port 555 of the charge pump 550 via the hydraulic fluid replenishing passage 588, and discharged through the outlet port 551, partly returns to the hydraulic fluid tank via the cooling conduit 591 extending through the outside air.

[0372] Specifically, the hydraulic fluid replenishing passage 588, a part of the pressure relief line 553 and the cooling conduit 591 together constitutes a circulation line having a first end communicating with the hydraulic fluid tank and a second end again communicating with the hydraulic fluid tank. The charge pump 550 is also designed to allow the hydraulic fluid to be sucked through the first end of the circulation line and to be returned to the hydraulic fluid tank through the second end of the circulation line. Whereby, the rise in temperature of the stored hydraulic fluid can effectively be prevented. As a result, deterioration in working efficiency of the hydraulic pumps and the hydraulic motors can effectively be prevented.

[0373] The pump unit of this embodiment has the arrangement to allow the hydraulic fluid drained from the relief valve 552 installed within the pressure relief line 553 to be returned to the hydraulic fluid tank via the cooling conduit 591 in consideration of the cooling efficiency of the hydraulic fluid. That is, the hydraulic fluid discharged from the charge pump 550 is highly pressurized, and therefore has a high temperature due to the pressure energy of the discharged hydraulic fluid. Therefore, when the drained hydraulic fluid is directly returned to the hydraulic fluid tank, the temperature of the hydraulic fluid stored in the hydraulic tank may increase. On the contrary, the pump unit of this embodiment includes the cooling conduit 591 to return the hydraulic fluid of a high temperature drained from the relief valve 552 to the hydraulic fluid tank to effectively limit the increase in temperature of the hydraulic fluid stored within the tank.

[0374] More preferably, the cooling fan 581 operatively driven by the power source 580 is disposed near the single unit 500 a and the reservoir tank 585, and the reservoir tank 585 is connected to the single unit 500 a in such a manner as to form between the reservoir tank 585 and the single unit 500 a a clearance 589 into which a cooling air stream is drawn from the cooling fan 581. The hydraulic fluid replenishing passage 588 and/or the hydraulic fluid communication passage 587 traverses the clearance 589.

[0375] In the above arrangement, the hydraulic fluid replenishing passage 588 and the hydraulic fluid communication passage 587 each preferably have the right and left sides surrounded by a cooling air duct or shroud to effectively guide the cooling air stream from the cooling fan to the clearance 589.

[0376] In this embodiment, the mounting members 590 for mounting the reservoir tank 585 to the single unit 500 a is formed into a casing (see FIG. 50) with sidewalls, so that the cooling air stream from the cooling fan 581 can efficiently drawn into the clearance along its sidewalls.

[0377] Such an additional fluid cooling arrangement can achieve cooling of the hydraulic fluid flowing through the hydraulic fluid replenishing passage 588 and the hydraulic fluid communication passage 587 in addition to the cooling of the hydraulic fluid flowing through the cooling conduit 591, thereby more effectively limiting the increase in temperature of the hydraulic fluid within the hydraulic tank.

[0378] The hydraulic fluid replenishing passage and the hydraulic fluid communication passage each more preferably has an outer circumference provided with cooling fins (not shown) to obtain an enlarged heat radiating area, and hence an improved cooling efficiency. The cooling fins can also be provided on the reservoir tank 585 itself.

[0379] Preferably, the reservoir tank 585 is made of a semitransparent resin material to afford a visual observation of the level of the hydraulic fluid from the outside of the tank. The reservoir tank 585 can also include a tank cap 585 b with an air release mechanism on the top of the tank.

[0380] In this embodiment, the charge pump 550 is provided to forcibly feed the pressurized hydraulic fluid to the inlet port for charging 534, and to circulate the hydraulic fluid through the circulation line. The present invention is not necessarily limited to this arrangement. Alternative to this arrangement with the charge pump 550, the inlet port for charging 534 may be directly connected to the reservoir tank 585 via the hydraulic fluid replenishing passage 588 by omitting the charge pump 550. This allows the hydraulic fluid to spontaneously flow into the inlet port 534 when the pressure in a lower pressure line of the first pair of hydraulic lines 584 a and/or the pressure in a lower pressure line of the second pair of hydraulic lines 584 b drops from a predetermined value. In addition, a pump may be separately provided to circulate the hydraulic fluid through the circulation line.

[0381] The pump unit of this embodiment may employ the arrangement, which allows a cooling air stream from a cooling fan (not shown) for the power source or a radiator (not shown) to be applied on the cooling conduit 591. This arrangement can more effectively cool the hydraulic fluid flowing through the cooling conduit 591.

[0382] Tenth Embodiment

[0383] Another embodiment of the pump unit according to the fifth aspect of the present invention will be hereinafter described with reference to FIG. 51. FIG. 51 is a longitudinal cross-sectional side view of the pump unit 500′.

[0384] As illustrated in FIG. 51, the pump unit 500′ of this embodiment is a tandem pump unit with the first hydraulic pump 510 a connected in series with the second hydraulic pump 510 b. In the following description, corresponding or identical parts to those of the ninth embodiment have been given the same reference characters or those with primes (′) to omit a detailed description thereof.

[0385] As illustrated in FIG. 51, the pump unit 500′ includes the common housing 520′ for accommodating the first hydraulic pump 510 a and the second hydraulic pump 510 b, and the first center section 530 a and the second center section 530 b respectively supporting the first hydraulic pump 510 a and the second hydraulic pump 510 b.

[0386] The common housing 520′ has the first end (the lower end in this embodiment), and the second end (the upper end in this embodiment) along the axial direction thereof respectively defining the first opening 520 a′ for receiving the first hydraulic pump 510 a and the second opening 520 b′ for receiving the second hydraulic pump 510 b.

[0387] The common housing 520′ also forms the partition wall 520 c′ at substantially the center in the direction of the pump shaft to divide the common housing into the first pump accommodation chamber and the second pump accommodation chamber. The partition wall 520 c′ includes a bearing portion for supporting the connection portion between the first pump shaft 511 a and the second pump shaft 511 b. Specifically, the partition wall 520 c′ includes a connection member 516 non-rotatably fixed around the downstream end or the upper end of the first pump shaft 511 a and the upstream end or the lower end of the second pump shaft 511 b, and rotatably supported in the bearing hole 520 d′ formed in the partition wall. The partition wall 520 c′ may form a plurality of hydraulic fluid communication passages 520 e′ for communication between the first pump accommodation chamber and the second pump accommodation chamber. These communication passages enable the entire housing to be used as the hydraulic fluid tank.

[0388] The first center section 530 a supports on the upper surface thereof the first hydraulic pump 510 a, and is connected to the housing 520′ in such a manner as to seal the first opening 520 a′ of the housing. The first pump shaft 511 a of the first hydraulic pump 510 a has the upstream end or the lower end extending downwardly through the first center section 530 a to form a lower extension through which the power is inputted to drive the hydraulic pump units and the cooling fan 581.

[0389] On the other hand, the second center section 530 b supports on the lower surface thereof the second hydraulic pump 510 b, and is connected to the housing 520′ in such a manner as to seal the second opening 520 b′ of the housing 520′. The second pump shaft 511 b of the second hydraulic pump 510 b has the downstream end or the upper end extending upwardly through the second center section 530 b to form an upper extension through which the charge pump 550 is driven.

[0390] The first center section 530 a, as illustrated in FIGS. 43 and 51, forms a first pair of hydraulic passages 531 a for the first hydraulic pump, respectively having first ends opening to the outside of the first center section through the surface facing the first piston unit 512 a (the upper surface) to respectively communicate with the inlet/outlet ports of the first piston unit, and second ends opening to the outside of the first center section. The second ends of the first pair of hydraulic passages 531 a opening to the outside forms a first pair of inlet/outlet ports 532 a respectively serving as connection ports for connection with the first pair of hydraulic lines 584 a extending to the first hydraulic motor 582 a.

[0391] Similarly, the second center section 530 b, as illustrated in FIGS. 43 and 51, forms a second pair of hydraulic passages 531 b for the second hydraulic pump, respectively having first ends opening to the outside of the second center section through the surface facing the second piston unit 512 b to respectively communicate with the inlet/outlet ports of the second piston unit, and second ends opening to the outside of the second center section. The second ends of the second pair of hydraulic passages 531 b opening to the outside forms a second pair of inlet/outlet ports 532 b respectively serving as connection ports for connection with the second pair of hydraulic lines 584 b extending to the second hydraulic motor 582 b.

[0392] Similarly to the ninth embodiment, the pump unit 500′ of this embodiment includes the common charging passage 533 disposed therein, having a first end opening to the outside of the pump unit to form the inlet port for charging 534, and the second end communicating with the first and second pairs of hydraulic passages.

[0393] The common charging passage 533, as illustrated in FIGS. 51, includes a first bore portion 533 a, a conduit portion 533 b and a second bore portion 533 c. The first bore portion 533 a is formed in the second center section 530 b to have a first end opening to the outside of the second center section through the upper surface thereof to form the inlet port for charging 534 and a second end communicating with the second pair of hydraulic passages 531 b via the check valves 561 c and 561 d and opening to the second pump accommodation chamber. The conduit portion 533 b is disposed to have a first end connected to the second end of the first bore portion 533 a and a second end extending through the second pump accommodation chamber, the partition wall 520 c and the first pump accommodation chamber to the first center section 530 a. The second bore portion 533 c is formed in the first center section 530 a to have a first end connected to the second end of the conduit portion 533 b and a second end communicating with the first pair of hydraulic passages 531 a via the check valves 561 a and 561 b. The conduit portion 533 b can be extended through the partition wall 520 c′ by disposing the conduit portion 533 b within one of the plurality of hydraulic fluid communication passages 520 e′.

[0394] The charging passage 533 is also connected to the pressure relief line 553 via the first end thereof with the relief valve 552 installed therein in the same manner as the ninth embodiment. The relief valve 552 regulates the hydraulic pressure of the charging passage 533 (see FIGS. 43 and 44). The pressure relief line 533 has the second end opening to the outside to form the drain port 554 through which the hydraulic fluid from the relief valve 552 is drained.

[0395] Connected to the drain port 554 is the cooling conduit 591, through which the hydraulic fluid drained from the drain port 554 is returned to the hydraulic tank, in the same manner as the ninth embodiment.

[0396] The thus arranged pump unit 500′ of this embodiment also produces the same effects as those of the ninth embodiment.

[0397] Alternative to the conduit portion 533 b′, it is possible to form in the peripheral wall of the common housing 520 a communication hole having a first end connected to the second end of the first bore portion 533 a′ and a second end connected to the first end of the second bore portion 533 c′.

[0398] This specification is by no means intended to restrict the present invention to the preferred embodiments set forth therein. Various modifications to the pump unit, as described herein, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A pump unit comprising: at least one hydraulic pump with inlet and outlet ports formed therein; a pump case for accommodating said at least one hydraulic pump, said pump case having an opening through which said at least one hydraulic pump is insertable into the pump case; a center section connected to said pump case in such a manner as to close said opening of the pump case; said center section forming a pair of inlet/outlet passages having first ends respectively communicating with said inlet and outlet ports of said at least one hydraulic pump and second ends opening to the outside of the center section through a pump case abutting surface of the center section, and a first charging passage having a first end through which working hydraulic fluid is fed into the center section and a second end opening to the outside of the center section through said pump case abutting surface of the center section; at least one of said pump case and said center section forming a communication passage for communication between said second ends of the pair of inlet/outlet passages and said second end of the first charging passage; a first hydraulic fluid feeding valve for allowing hydraulic fluid to flow from said first charging passage to said pair of inlet/outlet passages while preventing the reverse flow; and said first hydraulic fluid feeding valve being installable through said pump case abutting surface of the center section or a center section abutting surface of the pump case.
 2. A pump unit according to claim 1, wherein: said pump case reserves the hydraulic fluid.
 3. A pump unit according to claim 1, wherein: said working hydraulic fluid fed into said first charging passage through the first end thereof is hydraulic fluid fed from a charge pump operatively connected to a driving shaft for driving said at least one hydraulic pump; said center section forms a second charging passage for communication between the inside of said pump case and said first charging passage; and said second charging passage prevents the flow of the hydraulic fluid from said first charging passage into said pump case, while allowing the hydraulic fluid reserved within said pump case to flow into said first charging passage when negative pressure is generated in at least one of said pair of inlet/outlet passages.
 4. A pump unit according to claim 1, wherein: said communication passage has a groove shape and is formed in said center section abutting surface of the pump case; and said pump case has said center section abutting surface forming an escape groove communicating with the inside of the pump case for the escape of the hydraulic fluid leaked.
 5. A pump unit according to claim 1, wherein: said center section forms a bypass passage for communication between said pair of inlet/outlet passages; and said bypass passage is provided with an open/close valve in such a manner as to be operable from the outside for communication and cutoff of the hydraulic fluid between said pair of inlet/outlet passages.
 6. A pump unit comprising: a first hydraulic pump with inlet and outlet ports formed therein; a second hydraulic pump with inlet and outlet ports formed therein disposed parallel to said first hydraulic pump; a pump case for accommodating said first hydraulic pump and said second hydraulic pump, said pump case having an opening through which said first hydraulic pump and said second hydraulic pump are insertable into the pump case; a center section connected to said pump case in such a manner as to close said opening of the pump case; said center section forming a first pair of inlet/outlet passages having first ends respectively communicating with said inlet and outlet ports of said first hydraulic pump and second ends opening to the outside of the center section through a pump case abutting surface of the center section, a second pair of inlet/outlet passages having first ends respectively communicating with said inlet and outlet ports of said second hydraulic pump and second ends opening to the outside of the center section through said pump case abutting surface of the center section, and a first charging passage having a first end through which working hydraulic fluid is fed into the center section and a second end opening to the outside of the center section through said pump case abutting surface of the center section; at least one of said pump case and said center section forming a communication passage for communication said second ends of the pair of first inlet/outlet passages and the pair of second inlet/outlet passages to said second end of the first charging passage; a first hydraulic fluid feeding valve for allowing the flow of hydraulic fluid from said first charging passage to said pair of inlet/outlet passage and said second pair of inlet/outlet passages; and said first hydraulic fluid feeding valve being installable through said pump case abutting surface of the center section or a center section abutting surface of the pump case.
 7. A pump unit comprising: a first hydraulic pump and a second hydraulic pump respectively connected to first and second actuators via a first pair of hydraulic lines and a second pair of hydraulic lines, said first hydraulic pump and said second hydraulic pump accommodated within a common housing, the former being disposed parallel to the latter; said first and second hydraulic pumps supported on a common center section; and said common center section forming a first pair of inlet/outlet ports and a second pair of inlet/outlet ports, said first pair of inlet/outlet ports respectively serving as connection ports for connection with said first pair of inlet/outlet hydraulic lines, and said second pair of inlet/outlet ports respectively serving as connection ports for connection with said second pair of inlet/outlet hydraulic lines.
 8. A pump unit according to claim 7, wherein: said common center section forms a common charging passage for feeding pressurized hydraulic fluid into said first pair of hydraulic lines and said second pair of hydraulic lines.
 9. A pump unit according to claim 7, wherein: said first and second inlet/outlet ports are formed in the same side of said common center section.
 10. A pump unit according to claim 7, wherein: said first hydraulic pump and said second hydraulic pump respectively have pump shafts connected together by a power transmission mechanism provided in said common housing; and said common housing includes a partition wall through which said pump shafts of said first hydraulic pump and said second hydraulic pump can pass, said partition wall dividing said common housing into a pump accommodation chamber and a power transmission mechanism accommodation chamber.
 11. Apump unit according to claim 10, wherein: said first hydraulic pump and said second hydraulic pump are of an axial piston type that include angularly adjustable swash plates of a cradle type, said angularly adjustable swash plates respectively having rear sides forming spherical convex surfaces, while said partition wall forming guiding surfaces respectively sized and shaped to slidingly guide said spherical convex surfaces of said angularly adjustable swash plates.
 12. A pump unit used for a vehicle with first and second hydraulic motors respectively connected to the right and left drive wheels comprising: a first hydraulic pump and a second hydraulic pump, both being of a variable displacement type located parallel to one another within a common housing, and respectively operable in association with said first and second hydraulic motors; said first hydraulic pump and said second hydraulic pump respectively including a first pump shaft and a second pump shaft located parallel to one another within said common housing and operatively connected to one another via a power transmission mechanism, and said first control shaft and said second control shaft designed for controlling the input/output flow rates of said first and second hydraulic pumps; and said first control shaft and said second control shaft respectively extending away from one another along the vehicle width direction.
 13. A pump unit according to claim 12, wherein: said first control shaft and said second control shaft are located substantially at the same position with respect to the vehicle longitudinal direction.
 14. A pump unit according to claim 12, wherein: said housing includes a partition wall between said first and second hydraulic pumps, and said power transmission mechanism, through which said first pump shaft and said second pump shaft can extend, and said partition wall divides said housing into a hydraulic pump accommodation chamber and a power transmission mechanism accommodation chamber.
 15. A pump unit according to claim 14, wherein: said first hydraulic pump and said second hydraulic pump are of an axial piston type that respectively include angularly adjustable swash plates of a cradle type respectively having rear sides forming spherical convex surfaces; and said partition wall forming guiding surfaces respectively sized and shaped to slidingly guide the spherical convex surfaces of said angularly adjustable swash plates.
 16. A pump unit for operation in association with first and second actuators comprising: a first hydraulic pump and a second hydraulic pump respectively connected to said first and second actuators via a first pair of hydraulic lines and a second pair of hydraulic lines; a center section supporting said first hydraulic pump and said second hydraulic pump; a housing accommodating said first hydraulic pump and said second hydraulic pump; wherein said first hydraulic pump, said second hydraulic pump, said first pair of hydraulic lines, said second pair of hydraulic lines, said center section and said housing are integrally connected together to constitute a single unit; and a reservoir tank supportingly connected to said single unit for storing hydraulic fluid to be replenished to said first pair of hydraulic lines and said second pair of hydraulic lines.
 17. A pump unit according to claim 16, wherein: said single unit is designed so that the housing can serve as a hydraulic fluid tank; and the pump unit further comprises a hydraulic fluid communication passage for providing a free fluid communication betveen said reservoir tank and said housing.
 18. A pump unit according to claim 17, wherein: said center section is formed as a single unit for supporting both said first and second hydraulic pumps; said center section forms a first pair of hydraulic passages respectively having first ends communicating with said first hydraulic pump and second ends opening to the outside of said center section to form connection ports for connection with said first pair of hydraulic lines, a second pair of hydraulic passages respectively having first ends communicating with said second hydraulic pump and second ends opening to the outside of said center section to form connection ports for connection with said second pair of hydraulic lines, and a charging passage having a first end opening to the outside of said center section to form an inlet port for charging, serving as an inlet for the hydraulic fluid to be replenished and a second end communicating with said first pair of hydraulic passages and said second pair of hydraulic passages via check valves; said charging passage is connected to a pressure relief line communicating with said housing via a relief valve; and said inlet port for charging is connected to said reservoir tank via a hydraulic fluid replenishing passage.
 19. A pump unit according to claim 17, wherein: said center section includes a first center section and a second center section respectively supporting said first hydraulic pump and said second hydraulic pump; said first center section forms a first pair of hydraulic passages respectively having first ends communicating with said first hydraulic pump and second ends opening to the outside of said first center section to form connection ports for connection with said first pair of hydraulic lines; said second center section forms a second pair of hydraulic passages respectively having first ends communicating with said second hydraulic pump and second ends opening to the outside of said second center section to form connection ports for connection with said second pair of hydraulic lines; at least one of said first and second center sections forms a charging passage having a first end opening to the outside of said at least one of said first and second center sections to form an inlet port for charging, serving as an inlet for the hydraulic fluid to be replenished, and a second end communicating with said first pair of hydraulic passages and said second pair of hydraulic passages via check valves; said charging passage is connected to a pressure relief line communicating with the inside of said housing via a relief valve; and said inlet port for charging is connected to said reservoir tank via a hydraulic fluid replenishing passage.
 20. A pump unit according to claim 18, wherein: a cooling fan is provided near said single unit, said cooling fan adapted to be driven in synchronism with said first and second hydraulic pumps; said reservoir tank is connected to said single unit in such a manner as to form a clearance therebetween into which a cooling air stream is drawn from said cooling fan; and said hydraulic fluid communication passage and said hydraulic fluid replenishing passage are disposed in such a manner as to traverse said clearance.
 21. A pump unit for operation in association with first and second actuators comprising: a first hydraulic pump and a second hydraulic pump respectively connected to said first and second actuators via a first pair of hydraulic lines and a second pair of hydraulic lines; a center section supporting said first hydraulic pump and said second hydraulic pump; a housing accommodating said first hydraulic pump and said second hydraulic pump, said housing adapted to be used as a hydraulic fluid tank; a hydraulic fluid circulation mechanism for taking the hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic tank, and again returning the same to said hydraulic tank; and said hydraulic fluid circulation mechanism designed to cool the hydraulic fluid while circulating the same.
 22. A pump unit according to claim 21, wherein: said circulation mechanism includes a circulation line, at least a portion of which serves as a conduit, said circulation line having a first end communicating with the inside of said hydraulic tank and a second end again communicating with the inside of said hydraulic tank; and said conduit has at least a portion provided thereon with cooling fins.
 23. A pump unit according to claim 22, wherein: said center section is a unitary member on which said first and second hydraulic pumps are supported in parallel relationship with one another; said housing forms an opening in a side thereof, through which said first and second hydraulic pumps can pass; said center section and said housing are integrally connected together to form a single unit, so that said opening of the housing can be sealed in a liquid tight manner by said center section with said first and second hydraulic pumps supported thereon; said center section forms a first pair of hydraulic passages respectively having first ends communicating with said first hydraulic pump and second ends opening to the outside of said center section to form connection ports for connection with said first pair of hydraulic lines, a second pair of hydraulic passages respectively having first ends communicating with said second hydraulic pump and second ends opening to the outside of said center section to form connection ports for connection with said second pair of hydraulic lines, and a charging passage having a first end communicating with said hydraulic fluid tank to form an inlet port for charging, serving as an inlet for the hydraulic fluid to be replenished and a second end communicating with said first pair of hydraulic passages and said second pair of hydraulic passages via check valves; and said pump unit further comprises: a charge pump for sucking the hydraulic fluid stored within said hydraulic fluid tank and then discharging the same into said inlet port for charging; a pressure relief line having a first end connected to said charging passage via a relief valve and a second end forming a drain port through which the hydraulic fluid from said relief valve is drained; and a pipe connecting said second end of the pressure relief line with said hydraulic fluid tank; wherein said pipe constitutes said conduit, and said charge pump constitutes a part of said hydraulic fluid circulation mechanism.
 24. A pump unit according to claim 22, wherein: said center section includes a first center section and a second center section respectively supporting said first and second hydraulic pumps; said housing has first and second sidewalls facing one another and respectively forming a first opening and a second opening through which said first hydraulic pump and said second hydraulic pump can respectively pass; said first and second center sections are integrally connected to said housing to form a single unit, so that said first and second openings of said housing are sealed in a liquid tight manner by said first and second center sections respectively supporting said first and second hydraulic pumps thereon; said first center section forms a first pair of hydraulic passages respectively having first ends communicating with said first hydraulic pump and second ends opening to the outside of said first center section to form connection ports for connection with said first pair of hydraulic lines; said second section forms a second pair of hydraulic passages respectively having first ends communicating with said second hydraulic pump and second ends opening to the outside of said second center section to form connection ports for connection with said second pair of hydraulic lines; at least one of said first and second center sections forms a charging passage having a first end communicating with said hydraulic fluid tank to form an inlet for the hydraulic fluid to be replenished and a second end communicating with said first pair of hydraulic passages and said second pair of hydraulic passages via check valves; and said pump unit further comprises: a charge pump for sucking the hydraulic fluid stored within said hydraulic fluid tank and then discharging the same into said inlet port for charging; a pressure relief line having a first end connected to said charging passage via a relief valve and a second end forming a drain port through which the hydraulic fluid from said relief valve is drained; and a pipe connecting said second end of the pressure relief line with said hydraulic fluid tank; wherein said pipe constitutes said conduit, and said charge pump constitutes a part of said hydraulic fluid circulation mechanism.
 25. A pump unit according to claim 23, further comprising a reservoir tank, wherein: said reservoir tank is in free fluid communication with said housing via a hydraulic fluid communication passage, and forms a hydraulic fluid tank in cooperation with said housing; and said inlet port for charging communicates with said reservoir tank via a hydraulic fluid replenishing passage.
 26. A pump unit according to claim 25, wherein cooling fins are provided on said hydraulic fluid replenishing passage and said hydraulic fluid communication passage.
 27. A pump unit according to claim 25, wherein: a cooling fan adapted to be driven in synchronism with said first and second hydraulic pumps is provided near said single unit; said reservoir tank is connected to said single unit in such a manner as to form a clearance therebetween, into which a cooling air stream from said cooling fan is drawn; and said hydraulic fluid communication passage and said hydraulic fluid replenishing passage are disposed to transverse said clearance.
 28. A pump unit according to claim 27, wherein a cooling air duct is provided so that a cooling air stream from said cooling fan is drawn into said clearance along said cooling air duct. 